Baja-Los-Cabos v1 m56577569830496003

Lonely Planet Publications
217
Los Cabos
Los Cabos, the unrestrained big shot of Baja California, is three distinct personalities rolled
into one. San Jos del Cabo is a traditional yet refined Mexican town with a central plaza,
historic adobe buildings, a municipal market and narrow streets to remind you that, yes
indeed, this is Mexico. While San Jos clings however precariously to its Mexican past,
Cabo San Lucas is bent more upon partying and its fashionable good looks than maintaining
any sort of tradition or, for that matter, sensible plans for the future. Linking the two towns
is Los Cabos Corridor, an 29km (18-mile) stretch of beautiful beaches, golf courses, sandy
coves and Bajas most expensive resorts.
Where you stay depends on your budget and what youre here to do (see p219) for some
advice on where to shack up). Because the region is fairly compact and public transportation
is good, staying in Cabo San Lucas, say, and visiting San Jos by day is easy. A successful visit
therefore comes down to making the most of all there is to offer. That means spending at
least one night whooping it up in Cabo San Lucas; dropping at least one load of cash in one
of San Joss gourmet restaurants; and getting out to the beaches for snorkeling, swimming,
sun bathing and at Playa Mdano margaritas in the sun. It also means wandering off the
well-trodden path and experiencing those places that are distinctly Baja: dine at taqueras
(taco stands), drive up to the rancho (tiny rural settlement) of La Candelaria and, when you
take that horseback ride into the hills, grill your guide about everything you can. Youll find
theres a fascinating cultural side, faint as its becoming, to this salty paradise as well.
HIGHLIGHTS
LOS CABOS
Sip margaritas with your toes in the sand
at Playa Mdano (p240), where swimming,

sun and sousing are all superb
Don your snorkel gear and boat out to
Playa del Amor, Lands End (p240), for

a visual symphony above and below the
water
Playa Costa Azul
Test your anglers luck in the legendary
big-game sportfishing (p241) waters off

Cabo San Lucas
Big Game
Sportfishing
Drink, dance and debuch the night away in
Cabo San Lucas (p251)
Playa Mdano
Cabo San Lucas
Land's End
Grab your surfboard (or rent one) and surf
(or learn how to surf ) the stellar breaks at

Playa Costa Azul (p230)
CABO JANUARY AVERAGE HIGH: 79F/26C
WATER TEMP OFF CABO: 70-80F/21-27C
218 S A N J O S D E L C A B O H i s t o r y
LOS CABOS
HISTORY
Bajas southern tip has been, in succession, a
sleepy haven for indigenous Peric, a sheltered
hideaway for pirates and a string of sedate
fishing communities. The Peric inhabited
the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna to the
north, never settling around the cape proper
because fresh water was scarce there. The
majority of them died soon after the arrival
of Europeans and their deadly diseases.
When Europeans first saw the peninsula
in the 16th century, water shortages made
the southern cape an unappealing place for
permanent settlement but its secluded anchorages offered privateers an ideal base for
raiding Spains Manila galleons.
By the early 17th century, the Spanish had
lost enough gold and silver to prompt the
establishment of a small presidio (military
outpost) at Cabo San Lucas. Around 1730,
the Jesuits established Misin San Jos del
Cabo, which became a more permanent settlement. The presidio deterred the pirates and,
eventually, both encampments became villages whose inhabitants relied on fishing and
fish-canning for their livelihood. During the
MexicanAmerican War, US troops occupied
the area, as did the eccentric William Walkers
forces a few years later (see also p195).
After WWII, US private pilots brought tales
of the areas big game fish and magnificent
beaches to listeners north of the border. As
more North Americans arrived, upscale hotels
and restaurants sprouted, and the federal government built an international airport near
San Jos del Cabo. Cruise ships soon included
Cabo San Lucas on their itineraries, and a ferry
service (since discontinued) began to operate
from the mainland city of Puerto Vallarta.
In recent years, hordes of North American
tourists and retirees have frequented the area,
downtown Cabo San Lucas has lost its village
ambience and a string of multistory luxury
resort hotels not to mention several golf
courses has disfigured the coastline between
Cabo San Lucas and San Jos del Cabo. The
giant development of Puerto Los Cabos has
permanently altered the San Jos estuary, and
the construction of more resorts along the
beach at San Jos has no end in sight.
GETTING THERE & AROUND

Los Cabos International Airport (p227) is
10.5km (6.5 miles) north of San Jos del
Cabo. Shuttle services and taxis link the
lonelyplanet.com
airport with both towns and the resorts along

the Corridor. For more information on transport between the airport and anywhere in
Los Cabos, see San Jos del Cabos Getting
Around section, p228. Public buses (US$1.50)
run along the Corridor linking San Jos with
Cabo San Lucas.
SAN JOS DEL CABO

%624 / pop 60,000
Despite the fact that its crawling with tourists, historic little San Jos has charm. Lots
of it. Everyone visiting Cabo San Lucas and
the Corridor visits at least once to get their
slice of real Mexico. The spruced up central plaza draws out families (and musicians)
every evening, the surrounding streets are
lined with restored adobe buildings housing
outstanding art galleries, restaurants have
atmospheric courtyards and the boutique
shopping is fab. In fact, some might say San
Joss a little too perfect. Maybe it is. But, once
youre tired of the polished side, theres plenty
to snap you back to reality: open-air taqueras
with blaring TVs and fridges full of neon-orange Mexican sodas, a municipal market with
cheap family-style food, a funky shopping
strip (for the locals, of course), stereos blasting
from knockoff shoe stores and plenty of locals
going about their daily business. Really, whats
so perfect about San Jos is that it offers a bite
of whatever side of Mxico you want which
definitely isnt the case for the rest of Cabo.
HISTORY
Before the Jesuits arrived, the indigenous
Peric people called the site of present-day
San Jos del Cabo Auit. Fired by the desire to evangelize the Peric and establish a
long-awaited mission at the southern tip of
the cape, the Jesuits appointed Padre Nicols
Tamaral to found Misin San Jos del Cabo
in 1730. But the missions original sight,
4km (2.5 miles) inland, was chosen hastily.
Alkaline soils, poor irrigation and swarms
of mosquitoes forced Tamaral to move the
site to the banks of the San Jos estuary at
Auit, where the present-day town of San
Jos was born.
Tamaral set to converting the Peric, but
the Jesuits prohibition of polygamy and the
decimation of the Peric by European diseases
finally sparked a revolt in 1734. After that San
lonelyplanet.com
S A N J O S D E L C A B O S l e e p i n g i n C a b o 219
SLEEPING IN CABO
With hundreds of hotels spread among two towns and across 32km (20 miles) of dramatically
varied coastline, booking a hotel in Cabo can prove extremely confusing. Where you stay can
have a significant effect on the outcome of your vacation. If youre setting things up yourself,
pay close attention to where your hotel is and consider the following.
Location
Downtown San Jos del Cabo offers Cabos closest version of a traditional Mexican town. Here
you can stay in a family-run or boutique hotel and be walking distance from a plethora of restaurants and shops. Buses run regularly (until 10pm) to the Corridor beaches and to Cabo San Lucas
(for the best nightlife). San Joss beach resorts are spread along the wide Playa de California
(travel agents usually just refer to it as San Jos del Cabo), which is great for sunbathing, but
lousy for swimming, due to the undertow.
The Corridor has Los Cabos most luxurious hotels (theyre all resorts) and many of its most
beautiful beaches. The various locations are almost all splendid, but you have to figure out
transport (taxi or bus) if you want to do anything outside the hotel.
Hotels in central Cabo San Lucas are mostly small places and, like similar hotels in San Jos,
offer a more intimate experience and the convenience of being in the middle of town. In Cabo San
Lucas this means shops, restaurants and countless bars and nightclubs right outside your door.
Cabo San Lucas beach resorts are on Playa Mdano, which, in many ways, offers the best
of everything: great swimming, great sand, fun bars, luxury hotels and easy access to Cabo San
Lucas raging nightlife. Playa Mdano is walking distance from central Cabo San Lucas. Playa
Solmar, on the south side of Cabo San Lucas, has a few luxurious resorts overlooking the ocean;
the beach is wide, but because it faces the Pacific, its dangerous for swimming.
Hotel Type
Getting the Best Deal

Small hotels often maintain the same price throughout the year, or have a simple high-season/
low-season structure. Resort rates, however, fluctuate dramatically, depending upon season, day
of the week, room availability, how and when you book and whether the concierge is sporting
a standard or double Windsor knot in his tie.
Turning up at the hotel without a reservation usually guarantees youll be quoted the highest
price. However, if you turn up, check the place out and find rooms to your liking available,
youll get a better rate by grabbing a brochure, finding the nearest payphone and reserving by
telephone. If youre setting something up from home and find a deal online, always call first to
see if you can score something cheaper over the phone you often can.
Rates quoted throughout the Los Cabos chapter apply to peak season (usually November to
May), so expect to pay 25% to 50% less at other times. November to mid-April is high season,
with peak season (when prices are at their absolute highest) between December 20 and January
5. Low season is May to October. Prices quoted here include both 13% tax and gratuity, plus
the 10% to 15% service charge the resorts all tack on top. Room rates are for two adults, but
often youll get the same rate for two adults and two children or even four adults (all in the
same room, of course).
LOS CABOS
Independent travelers who enjoy chatting with hotel owners and staff usually opt for the small
hotels of downtown San Jos or Cabo San Lucas. If you just want a relaxed, pamper-me-I-deserve-it
experience, you have to decide between all-inclusive (meaning all meals, snacks, booze and
entertainment are included) or the so-called European plan (room only). For a list of the 10 or
so all-inclusive hotels in Los Cabos, check out www.allinclusivescabo.com, if only to get an idea
of what there is to choose from.
All-inclusives are great for families but the food is generally just mediocre. If youre opting
for an all-inclusive, try to find out if there are poolside activities classic-rock aerobics and
trivia contests are red flags if you want peace and quiet. Resorts reviewed in this chapter are
all-inclusive only when noted.
220 S A N J O S D E L C A B O
lonelyplanet.com
SAN JOS DEL CABO

A
To Los Cabos International

Airport (10.5km);
La Paz (192km)
D
22
18
Margarita de Jurez
Benito Jurez
Prolongacin 5 de Mayo
MEX
34
D6
E1
E1
D1
F6
E6
D1
E1
F5
E5
C6
E2
lez
60
61
onz
lerio G
45
32
Va
9
Plaza San
Jos
siones
Paseo de los Mi
EATING
Baan Thai.....................................31 D1
D' Pancake House........................32 C3
Damiana.......................................33 E1
El Chimichurri...............................34 D3
El Comal.......................................35 E2
El Mesn del Ahorcado.................36 B1
French Riviera...............................37 F6
Jazmns.......................................38 E6
La Panga Antigua.........................39 F6
Mercado Municipal......................40 D2
Morgans Encore..........................41 E6
Super Pollo...................................42 B2
Taquera El Fogn........................43 C2
Taquera Erica..............................44 C2
Taquera Mxico.......................... 45 D3
Tequila..........................................46 E1
Tropicana Bar & Grill..................(see 30)
63
oF
ini
s
ter
ra
59
se
LOS CABOS
40
Pa
Doblado
44 astro
C
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES

Iglesia San Jos.............................16 F6
Mayan Palace Golf Course........... 17 D5
Nomadas de Baja California..........18 D1
SLEEPING
Best Western Hotel Posada Real...19
Casa Natalia.................................20
El Encanto Inn...............................21
El Encanto Suites..........................22
Hotel Colli....................................23
Hotel Diana..................................24
Nuevo Hotel San Jos...................25
Posada Seor Maana...................26
Presidente InterContinental..........27
Royal Solaris.................................28
The Grand Baja............................ 29
Tropicana Inn...............................30
Zaragoza
1
54
43
42
31
Degollado
Banorte
Green
36
Marinos
Paseo de los Pescadores
25
rra
INFORMATION
American Express.........................(see 4)
Banca Serfin...................................1 D1
Bancomer.......................................2 E6
Caf Vainilla.................................(see 9)
Canadian Consulate........................3 E2
Corre Caminos................................4 E3
Cruz Roja........................................5 E2
IMSS Hospital.................................6 E2
Lavandera Eco................................7 E3
Lavandera Laundry Mat.................8 E6
Municipal Tourist Office.................9 C3
Nuiti.............................................10 E3
Police Station................................11 E2
Post Office....................................12 E2
Spider Web..................................13 B6
Trazzo Digital...............................14 E6
Viajes Damiana............................15 E6
Guerrero
MEX
Iba
Mrquez de Len
Mayan Palace Golf Course
17
DRINKING
Cactus Jacks.................................47 E2
Los Barriles de Don Malaquias....(see 64)
Shooters........................................48 E1
Tropicana Bar & Grill..................(see 30)
SHOPPING
Antigua Los Cabos.......................49
Arte Diseo Decoracin................50
Copal............................................51
Corsica.........................................52
Doa Pitaya..................................53
Dulcera Delicia............................54
Fruitlandia.....................................55
Old Town Gallery.........................56
Pez Gordo....................................57
Veryka..........................................58
Pase
o Lo
F6
F6
E1
E6
F6
C2
E2
E6
E6
E1
s Ca
bos
62
an
S
seo
Pa
Mega Shopping Center

MEX
13
29
To Los Cabos
Corridor & Cabo
San Lucas (32km)
Jos
19
Playa del
Nuevo Sol
TRANSPORT
Alamo......................................... 59
Dollar...........................................60
Main Bus Terminal.......................61
Mexicana.....................................62
Thrifty..........................................63
Thrifty..........................................64
C4
C3
C3
C6
C4
E2
S A N J O S D E L C A B O O r i e n t a t i o n 221
lonelyplanet.com
0
0
500 m
0.3 miles
26
21
20
58
33
51
Hidalgo
Obreg
Plaza
Mijares
To La Playita (3km);
Pueblo La Playa (3km);
Puerto Los Cabos (3km);
La Fonda del Mar/
Buzzard's Bar (8km);
Eastern Cape
48
Blvd Jo
Morelos
see inset
46
35
to
s An
30
nio M
6
Coronado
ijares
55
ez
ur
to J
Plaza
Jos
Green
3
i
Ben
ORIENTATION
2
47
64
Hidalgo
Morelos
11
5
12
Arr
oyo
San
10
Jos
seo
Pa
Jos was mostly abandoned, but by the late

1700s all the Peric had died of European
diseases.
The town later became an important military outpost, sheltered occasional sailors en
route to Acapulco and attracted a mishmash
of farmers, miners, ranchers and fishermen
who worked throughout the southern cape. It
remained, for the most part, a frontier town
until tourism hit the cape in the 1960s. Today
its the municipal seat of Los Cabos.
lE
de
San Jos lies about 1.6km (1 mile) inland

from the beach and the beachfront zona
hotelera (hotel zone), home to the towns
giant resorts. Its about 32km (20 miles) east
of Cabo San Lucas and 192km (119 miles)
south of La Paz. The historic downtown is
linked to the zona hotelera by the manicured
Blvd Jos Antonio Mijares (abbreviated to
Blvd Mijares); the zona hotelera hugs the
beaches of Playa de California and Playa del
Nuevo Sol, which together makes one long
beach. San Joss commercial center orbits
Plaza Mijares, the northern terminus of Blvd
Mijares.
Benito Jurez leads east past the Puerto
Los Cabos development to Pueblo La Playa
(a former fishing village), Laguna Hills and
the Eastern Cape Rd (p204).
ro
ste
INFORMATION
Bookstores
Emergency Services
Cementerio
tor
Re
no
27
Pu
Spider Web (%105-2048; Plaza los Portales, Local 102,

Transpeninsular Km 30) Outstanding selection of
Baja-related books and maps and plenty of used novels.
Also has internet.
nta
rda
Go
Cruz Roja (Red Cross; %066; Blvd Mijares near Benito
28
Jurez) Call for ambulance.

Fire (%068)
Police (%060, 142-0361; Blvd Mijares near Benito
Jurez)
Playa de California
Internet Access
41 52
n
Obreg
53
57
56
24
15
14
16
Hidalgo
Morelos
Baha San
Jos del
Cabo
38
Caf Vainilla (Transpeninsular, Plaza San Jos, Local 13;
49
Plaza
Mijares
Zaragoza
39 50
23
37
per hr US$3) Coffee house with internet.
Corre Caminos (Blvd Mijares; per hr US$5; hSun)
Coffee, juices and baked goods served.

Nuiti (Valerio Gonzlez; per hr US$2) Cheap.
Trazzo Digital (%412-0303; Zaragoza 24; per hr US$5)
Fastest internet downtown.
LOS CABOS
To Estero San
Jos (100m)
222 S A N J O S D E L C A B O S i g h t s
Internet Resources
service US$3.50)
for suspense. On weekends, bands (for better

or worse) take to the stage. The plaza is surrounded by colorful, historical buildings and
anchored by the Iglesia San Jos, an imposing
replica of the original mission church. Note
the mosaic above the front portal depicting a
1734 local indigenous uprising.
Lavandera Laundry Mat (Morelos at Obregn; selfservice/full service US$2.80/5; h8am-8pm Mon-Sat)
Estero San Jos
For internet resources pertinent to all of Los

Cabos, see p237.
Laundry
Lavandera Eco (Valerio Gonzlez near Morelos; full
The cambio (money exchange) at Los Cabos

International Airport offers poor rates. In
town, several cambios keep long hours, but
banks pay better rates. Downtowns Bancomer
(cnr Morelos & Zaragoza) and Banca Serfin (cnr Degollado &
Zaragoza) cash travelers checks and have ATMs.
Amex (%142-1306; Blvd Mijares near Paseo Finisterra) has
an office on the road to the beach.
Although the Puerto Los Cabos development

is taking a devastating toll upon the San Jos
estuary especially near the ocean its still
one of the towns most delightfully peaceful
spots and a good place to squeeze in a little
bird-watching. It is, at least in name, a protected wildlife sanctuary and home to many
bird species, including frigate birds, sparrow
hawks, white herons and red-tailed hawks.
From near the corner of Benito Jurez, a palmlined pedestrian trail, known as the Paseo del
Estero, parallels Mijares all the way to the zona
hotelera. This is a peaceful alternative to the
boulevard, but it may not always be passable
because of high water levels, especially after
rains. In colonial times, pirates took refuge
in the estuary between raids on Spanish
galleons.
Post
Beaches
Post office (Blvd Mijares near Valerio Gonzlez)
San Joss long, white, sandy beaches are a

major attraction for visitors, but theyre a good
20-minute walk from the center of town. Playa
del Nuevo Sol and its eastward extension, Playa de
California (at the southern end of Blvd Mijares),
are both good for sunbathing but the current
and strong shore-break make swimming risky.
Together, the beaches make an incredibly long
stretch of sand a great morning walk if you
head east away from the hotels. After 1km
(a half-mile) or so, youll reach La Playita, the
beach adjacent to Pueblo La Playa (p229). La
Playita has always had excellent surf fishing
and a more local feel than the other beaches,
but this is all changing dramatically with the
development of Puerto Los Cabos (in early
2007, still a work in progress). Unfortunately,
until the project is complete (a date thats anybodys guess), giant dump trucks will continue
to pound down the beach.
Media
For a list of the local English-language publications, see p237.
Medical Services
IMSS hospital (%emergency 142-0180, nonemergency 142-0076; cnr Hidalgo & Coronado)
Money
Telephone
Ladatel public telephones are plentiful everywhere, especially around Plaza Mijares.
LOS CABOS
lonelyplanet.com
Tourist Information
Municipal tourist office (%146-9628; www.loscabos
.gob.mx, turismoloscabos@prodigy.net.mx; Plaza San

Jos, Local 3 & 4, Transpeninsular near Valerio Gonzlez;
h8:30am-3pm Mon-Fri) Plenty of brochures, helpful
staff, but a lousy location away from the center. On the
lower floor of the Plaza San Jos complex.
Travel Agencies
Viajes Damiana (%142-0752, 142-3752; cnr Zaragoza
& Morelos) Widely respected, full-service travel agency.
SIGHTS
Plaza Mijares & Iglesia San Jos

San Joss central plaza is far more traditional
than anything found in San Lucas. In the
evening, tourists mill around, local families
wander down with the kids and the plaza turns
into a small kickball-court-cum-tricycle-track,
with oblivious wandering toddlers thrown in
ACTIVITIES
Surfing
Theres loads of great surf around San Jos del

Cabo, especially along Playa Costa Azul (see
p232), just southwest of town.
Book accommodations online at lonelyplanet.com
Fishing
Fishing is not as big a pastime in San Jos as
it is in Cabo San Lucas and on the east cape,
but several operators do offer excursions. One
of the best-known local operators is Gordo
Banks Pangas (%142-1147, in the USA 800-408-1199;
www.gordobanks.com), based in La Playita, which
charges US$200 to US$280 for pangas (outboard fishing skiffs), depending on the size.
Pangas hold up to three people. Cruisers run
US$350 to US$530.
Golf
Formerly the municipal golf course, the
Fonatur-designed Mayan Palace Golf Course
(%142-0905; Paseo San Jos) is a nine-hole, par-35
course. With a green fee of US$70, its the
cheapest in Los Cabos not bad, considering your cart is included. Club rentals cost
US$10. If you want to swing in style, head to
the Corridor courses (p232).
TOURS
FESTIVALS & EVENTS

March 19 marks the Fiesta de San Jos, a celebration of the towns patron saint. Festivities
last four or five days and include folk dancing,
parades, lots of food and horse races.
SLEEPING
Downtown San Jos has several sophisticated boutique hotels, but its tight on budget
options. The most expensive hotels are the allinclusive luxury resorts down on the beach.
The nearest established campgrounds are in
the Corridor; free camping at La Playita may
be possible. Also see the boxed text, p219.
Downtown San Jos

Nuevo Hotel San Jos (%142-1705; Obregn at Guerrero;
r US$20-35; a) The street-facing rooms at San
Joss cheapest hotel are giant, while those

in the back are smaller and darker. Special
touches include exposed electrical wires (that
do indeed shock), pipes masquerading as
shower heads, seatless toilets, industrial toilet
paper holders and a motley (burp) clientele.
Its fine if youre on a budget.
Hotel Diana (%142-0490; Zaragoza 30; r US$35)
Hotel Diana pays unknowing tribute to its
previous life as a bar with faux-rock arches
in the back rooms and chimerical bedspreads
featuring wild-eyed horses bursting from
clouds. Rooms are tolerable, bathrooms are
basic and everythings a little worn. Friendly
and cheap.
Hotel Colli (%142-0725; Hidalgo near Zaragoza; r US$45;
a) One of the best-value places in town, the
family-run Hotel Colli has immaculate rooms
(flowered bedspreads, painted furniture), free
bottled water and a tiny patio out back. It has
a perfectly preserved c-1963 look to it. Best of
all, the owners are wonderfully friendly. Try
for the quieter off-street rooms.
Tropicana Inn (%142-1580; www.tropicanacabo
.com; Blvd Mijares near Coronado; r US$79-130; as)
With its outdoor patio, banana trees, tropical foliage and a palapa-roofed poolside
bar (complete with underwater chairs), its
hard to believe this handsome hotel is right
downtown. Its unpretentiousness and central
location make it an excellent choice. Enter
through its namesake restaurant.
El Encanto Inn (%142-038; www.elencantoinn.com;
Morelos 133; r US$89; as) El Encanto is basically two hotels: the Inn and El Encanto Suites
(suite US$119 to US$240), across the street.
The best rooms are those in the latter and
open onto a flower-festooned garden, replete
with a lovely swimming pool and chaise
lounges. Those at the Inn are large and very
comfy, but open only onto a narrow (though
well tended) courtyard.
Casa Natalia (%142-5100, in the USA 888-277-3814;
www.casanatalia.com; Blvd Mijares 4; s US$198-275, d US$396412; as) European-owned Casa Natalia is
an ultrachic luxury hotel squeezed into the

confines of an historic building on the northeastern corner of Plaza Mijares. Each of the
18 rooms is decorated uniquely with locally
produced artwork, and bears a name (Watermelon, Shell, Cactus etc) to match. They all
have private patios (where breakfast is served
each morning), and the grounds are simply
stunning. To call it divinely comfortable is
even an understatement.
LOS CABOS
Nomadas de Baja (%146-9612; www.nomadasdebaja

.com; Zaragoza near Mrquez de Len) is an ecologically
minded adventure tour company that offers
a wide range of explorations along the coast,
the Los Cabos hinterlands and the Sierra de la
Laguna. Options include trips to waterfalls and
hot springs (US$65), a sunrise hike (US$45)
and biking through the desert (US$85). The
very popular kayak-and-snorkel trip to Cabo
Pulmo costs US$105. Local kayaking trips cost
US$45. Guided two-day, two-night hiking
treks to the Sierra de la Laguna cost US$350,
including mules, food, guides and transport.
S A N J O S D E L C A B O T o u r s 223
224 S A N J O S D E L C A B O E a t i n g
Beach Hotels
San Joss closest beachfront hotels are a 20minute walk from downtown. Because most
are chain resorts, rates fluctuate wildly; prices
quoted here are only intended to give a rough
idea. There are several other hotels on this
strip and more go up each season.
Best Western Hotel Posada Real (%142-0155,
in the USA 800-780-7234; www.posadareal.com.mx, www
.bestwestern.com; Playa de California; r from US$190;
pnais) Good choice if youre looking
for something in the resort vein without the

Rolls Royce price tag.
Royal Solaris (% 145-6800, toll free in Mexico
800-557-7684; www.hotelessolaris.com; r from US$266;

pnais) This is the most affordable
of the all-inclusives with food and atmosphere

to match. Great place to let the kids run wild.
Family atmosphere.
Grand Baja (%400-1605, in the USA 800-745-2226;
www.grand-baja.com; r from US$265) Offers European
and all-inclusive plans. The latter runs about
US$350 per double. Classy feel, great swimming pool.
Presidente InterContinental (%142-0211, in the
USA 888-567-8725; www.loscabos.interconti.com; d from
US$450; pnas) The big daddy of San
Joss beach resorts offers all-inclusive rates

only. Three pools means you can chose your
scene.
LOS CABOS
Pueblo La Playa/La Playita

Pueblo La Playa is 10 to 15 minutes by car
from downtown San Jos. Accommodations
are much closer to the beach here than they
are in downtown San Jos and cost less than
the luxury resorts on Playas California and
Nuevo Sol. However, due to the massive
development of Puerto Los Cabos, Pueblo La
Playa was not the most peaceful place to stay
at the time of research. The following hotels
once offered some of the best value around
and with the completion of the project may
well again but at research time they werent
conducive to a quiet, romantic stay near the
beach (unless you like dodging dump trucks
during your stroll down the sand).
If youre in Los Cabos to fish, surf or engage
in other activities that draw you out of Pueblo
La Playa for the day, its still a great place to
stay. Just be sure to call ahead of time and be
certain to ask the owners how quiet things are
when you call. These are all small hotels and
the owners will give you an honest assessment
of their changing slice of paradise.
El Delfn Blanco (%142-1212; www.eldelfinblanco

.net; s/d US$30/39, casita US$50-56) Facing La Playita
beach, this Swedish-run accommodation sits
in a garden filled with palm and banana trees.
Amenities include a barbecue area and outdoor kitchen. Tent sites cost US$10 to US$15.
Otherwise you stay in the neatly decorated,
thatch-roof cabaas (cabins) with shared or
private bathroom. Its a lovely little place.
La Playita Hotel (%142-4166, in the USA 626-9622805, 888-242-4166; laplayitahotel@prodigy.net.mx; r US$78)
Almost in the sand at La Playita beach, this

modest and wonderfully friendly Americanowned hotel has large, comfortable rooms
that open to the outside. Rates include continental breakfast. Give the owners a call and
theyll be very frank with you about how much
construction is going on nearby. Its a great
spot, really, and a good place to crash if youre
heading up the Eastern Cape Rd.
Elsewhere
La Fonda del Mar/Buzzards Bar (%in the USA 951-
303-9384; www.buzzardsbar.com; r shared/private bathroom

US$75/95) Owned by a friendly American cou-
ple, this four-room B&B is just the spot for

low-key relaxation. Three of the rooms have
their own sinks and toilets but share a separate
shower (which is immaculate), and a fourth
has its own shower. Theyre all set within a
small garden, just off the fabulous outdoor
restaurant. The beach is a shells throw away.
Prices drop by US$10 May 16 to October 31.
Considering the rates include breakfast ordered off the menu (a US$6 to US$8 value per
person in itself), its a great deal. The B&B is
located just beyond Pueblo La Playa, at the
start of the Eastern Cape Rd.
EATING
After the success of pioneering restaurants
such as Tequila, the formula for the San Jos
restaurant was set: fancy flatware, artsy presentation and sky-high prices. Its as if the citys
restaurateurs banded together and decided
that no main course sold within three blocks
of the main plaza should cost under US$18.
Alta cocina (haute cuisine) is big business in
San Jos. Quality, admittedly, is high, and
the atmosphere inside these old Mexican
buildings is undeniably romantic. But choose
carefully, and dont mistake high prices for
equally high quality.
For something more authentic (and easier
on the wallet) hit the more casual eateries
lonelyplanet.com
along Valerio Gonzlez, Doblado and Paseo

de los Pescadores, which is on the other side
of the Transpeninsular.
Plaza Mijares & Blvd Mijares

Tropicana Bar & Grill (%142-0907; Blvd Mijares near
Coronado; mains US$7-15) Tropicana has a large,
open sports bar, sidewalk seating and a dedicated clientele who roll in to eat good food at
prices that are kept relatively reasonable. Nononsense Mexican-American main courses
such as baby-back ribs and a lobster-steak
combination characterize the menu. Breakfasts are huge and delicious. The Sunday
breakfast buffet (US$14) is well-attended.
Damiana (%142-0499; Blvd Mijares at Plaza Mijares;
mains US$12-25) Popular Damiana occupies a
restored 18th-century house with wood-beam
ceilings and traditional decorations. At night
the courtyard, canopied with bougainvillea,
is especially romantic. Reservations are
recommended.
La Panga Antigua (%142-4041; www.lapanga.com;
Zaragoza s/n; mains US$18-35; hnoon-10:30pm) With
dishes such as yellow fin tuna in a merlot
reduction, pan-fried jumbo shrimp over
fettuccini with organic vegetables and rack
of lamb in annatto rub and pineapple salsa,
La Panga Antigua sits squarely within the
mold of San Jos haute cuisine. Its beautifully
decorated and highly regarded.
South of the Plaza
Blvd Mijares; mains US$12-22; hlunch & dinner Mon-Sat)
Boasting some of the best patio seating in

town, El Comal serves classic mainland Mexican dishes with a gourmet twist. Plates include
beef medallions in mole (a rich sauce seasoned
with chocolate and spices), cochinita pibil
(a traditional pork dish from the Yucatn;
US$16) and arrachera en su jugo (flanksteak
served in its juice). Prices are reasonable by
San Jos standards, and locals say its good.
Tequila (%142-1155; www.tequilarestaurant.com;
Doblado near Hidalgo; mains US$18-36; hdinner only)
The big draws for this classy favorite are the
beautiful patio and the 90 varieties of Tequilas

namesake swill. The food has morphed from
Mexican and Mediterranean-inspired over
the years to more strictly Californian, prices
have skyrocketed and quality has remained
about the same (great, but astoundingly
overpriced).
Morgans Encore (% 142-4737; cnr Obregn &
Morelos; mains US$19-35; h6pm-midnight) Set in a
beautifully remodeled heritage building,
Morgans specializes in gourmet Mexican
and international food. Follow the staircase
to the open-air terrace upstairs for a fabulous
setting. For those of you who really want to
splash out, try the US$42 rib-eye.
West of the Plaza

Jazmns (%142-1760; Morelos near Obregn; breakfast
US$8-23, mains US$9-20; h8am-11pm) Jazmns serves
Mexican, seafood and vegetarian meals in a
peaceful setting with unobtrusive service and,
incongruously, a paperback book exchange.
Breakfasts are excellent. Unfortunately, prices
have recently climbed.
Baan Thai (%142-3344; Morelos near Obregn; mains
US$10-20; hnoon-10pm Mon-Sat) For a change of
pace, try the flavorful and spicy concoctions
at this upscale Thai restaurant. Dishes such
as tom kha ghai (coconut) soup, fish wrapped
in banana leaf, and the catch of the day in
lemon black-bean sauce are all assiduously
prepared.
Elsewhere
For cheap eats, youll have to remove yourself
from the touristy area of downtown and venture west toward the Mercado Municipal, the
highway and the bus terminal. A stroll along
Paseo de los Pescadores, west of the highway,
will turn up some interesting choices.
Mercado Municipal (Municipal Market; cnr Ibarra &
Coronado; mains about US$3; h6am-4pm) The numerous loncheras (lunch stalls) alongside San
Joss municipal market offer simple, inexpensive and good meals. A bowl of menudo (tripe
and hominy stew) or a plate of enchiladas will
set you back only about US$3.
Super Pollo (chicken US$3-5) This local branch
of the Super Pollo chain is the place to go for
roast bird. Its just off of Paseo de los Pescadores, west of the Transpeninsular.
D Pancake House (%130-7611; www.dpancakehouse
.com.mx; Valerio Gonzlez s/n; mains US$4-7; hTue-Sun)
This is the place for breakfast in San Jos.

Huge portions, reasonable prices and more
LOS CABOS
French Riviera (%147-7198; cnr Hidalgo & Doblado; snacks

US$1-4, mains US$8-15) This French-owned bakery
whips out superb croissants, baguettes and
pastries fresh daily. Salads, crepes and other
sit-down dishes make for a pricier meal than
ordering morsels such as miniquiches, hamand-cheese croissants and personal pizzas to
go from the pastry counter. Excellent.
El Comal (%142-5508; www.restaurantelcomal.com;
S A N J O S D E L C A B O E a t i n g 225
226 S A N J O S D E L C A B O D r i n k i n g & E n t e r t a i n m e n t
than 50 items to choose from (including waffles, egg dishes, fruit, granola and, of course,
pancakes) make it a sure shot. At press time,
the owner was firing up a new dinner feature: a US$9 buffet featuring sushi, salads and
Mexican food.
El Chimichurri (%158-1202; Valerio Gonzlez s/n; 3 empanadas for US$5; hTue-Sun) This small Argentineowned meat importer sells fresh empanadas
(baked turnovers stuffed with meat, cheese
or veggies) at US$5 for three or US$20 for a
dozen. Delivery offered.
Taquera Mxico (Valerio Gonzlez s/n; tacos
US$1.20-1.80, mains US$5-13; h11am-2am) Openair Taquera Mxico has plastic tables and
fabric tablecloths and serves up delicious
tacos, stuffed potatoes and reasonably priced
seafood to a mostly local clientele. The fish
filets (US$12) and whole snapper (US$14) are
particularly good. On Thursday and Sunday,
try the pozole (pork and hominy stew; US$6).
Full bar.
If you head west along Doblado youll
encounter several cheap taqueras, the two
best being Taquera Erica (Doblado near Mxico 1; tacos
US$1-2; h10am-4am) and Taquera El Fogn (Doblado
near Mxico 1; tacos US$1-3; h8am-2am). The latter
serves outstanding tacos al pastor (rotisserie
pork tacos) and several other variations on
lonelyplanet.com
the tortilla-packed-with-goodies concept.

Vegetarians can dig into quesadillas or stuffed
potatoes.
DRINKING & ENTERTAINMENT

San Jos is pretty tranquilo (mellow) after
dark. If youre really looking to party, head
over to Cabo San Lucas. There are a few places
in San Jos, however.
Tropicana Bar & Grill (%142-0907; Blvd Mijares near
Coronado) Tropicana featrues a popular happy
hour and hosts live music nightly in high
season.
Cactus Jacks (Blvd Mijares near Benito Jurez) Cactus
Jacks does karaoke Wednesday through Saturday nights and hosts the occasional live
band. Pool tables and a large-screen TV
(showing sporting events) help bring in the
night owls.
Shooters (cnr Blvd Mijares & Doblado) Great happy
hour and reasonably priced beer make this
rooftop bar a good hang-out, especially when
theres live music (weekends, usually).
Los Barriles de Don Malaquias (%142-5322; cnr
Blvd Mijares & Benito Jurez; h10am-8pm Mon-Sat) Los
Barriles stocks more than 300 varieties of
tequila and keeps at least two dozen bottles
open for tasting. Prices are a bit steep, but the
selection is great.
DINING WITH THE HANGMAN
LOS CABOS
Its hard to beat a name like El Mesn del Ahorcado (cnr Paseo de los Pescadores & Paseo de los Marinos;
h6pm-1am Tue-Sun), which means the hanged mans restaurant or, as its called locally in English,
the Hangman. And, indeed, the easiest way to spot the place is by the cowboy effigy dangling by
its neck from the gallows out front. Even harder to beat than the name is the Hangmans food.
This is the one restaurant in San Jos you shouldnt miss. The best part: its cheap.
But why the morbidity? It all started in the town of Tamazula de Gordiano, in the mainland
Mexican state of Jalisco, when owner Sergio Velasco opened up a taquera beneath a giant eucalyptus tree apparently a tree with a history. During the Mexican Revolution, General Gordiano
Guzmn, after whom the town is named, used the tree to string up counterrevolutionaries and
outlaws by their undesired necks. So decades later, even though Sergio Velasco named his taquera
Sergios, everyone who ate there said they were going to eat with the hanged man. And the
name stuck.
In 1996 Velasco moved his family and the restaurant to San Jos and, as at the original, filled
every inch of the patio with junk: ranch paraphernalia, carousel horses, devil heads, license plates,
broken surf boards, dolls, masks, bumpers. His wife and four kids (and a handful of friends) all
help run the place, carefully explaining (in English, if you wish) the menus imaginative tacos and
quesadillas, all stuffed with traditional ingredients you wont easily find around here.
At no more than US$1.80 a pop, choices include quesadillas made with huitlacoche (a black
fungus that grows on corn), flor de calabaza (squash flower) and nopal (cactus paddles). The
tacos are equally imaginative (try the cow tongue in mustard sauce), and every table has 11
varieties of salsa with which to garnish your food. And the Velasco family is so friendly youll
find yourself hanging around all night!
S A N J O S D E L C A B O S h o p p i n g 227
lonelyplanet.com
LOCAL LORE: DAMIANA

Start sampling the margaritas in Cabo and youll likely run across the damiana margarita. Rather
than Cointreau or Triple Sec, this version of the standard tequila-and-lime cocktail contains licor
de damiana, a liqueur made from the desert shrub known as damiana and poured from a bottle
shaped loosely like an Inca fertility goddess.
Native to southern Baja, damiana is a desert shrub with tiny yellow flowers and small green leaves.
Throughout Mexico it is used most often in the form of tea to treat everything from anxiety
and depression to coughs and constipation. It is also used to treat bronchitis, dysentery, diabetes,
menstrual irregularities and even bed wetting. But what its best known for is its supposed effects
on the male and female reproductive systems. Damiana is widely believed to be an aphrodisiac.
Its scientific name is Turnera diffusa or, perhaps more appropriately, Turnera aphrodisiaca.
The liqueur version of damiana, available in its distinctive bottle throughout Cabo, is called
Guaycura after the indigenous Guaycura (Waicura) who inhabited southern Baja until the early
1800s. Supposedly, smoking the leaves of the plant produces an effect similar to, but much milder
than, cannabis. Honestly, we havent experimented ingesting the herb in this manner. As a tea,
however well, lets just say it tasted great. Keep your eyes peeled and try some yourself!
SHOPPING
Galleries
San Jos is a veritable museum of contemporary painters, and browsing its galleries
whether you intend to buy or not is a
highlight. Most of the best galleries are on
(or just off of) Obregn, between Hidalgo
and Guerrero. Every Thursday evening during
high season, galleries open their doors and
serve wine and snacks during the Thursday Art
Walk (h5-9pm Oct-Jun).
There are loads of other galleries, but dont
miss the following:
Corsica (%146-9177; www.galeriacorsica.com; Obregn
15) Features works by some of Mexicos top artists. This is
one you want to pop into even if youre not buying.
Doa Pitaya (%142-6550; Obregn 8) Sells psychedelic
beaded Huichol handicrafts from the Mexican mainland.
Old Town Gallery (%142-3662; www.oldtowngallery
.net; Obregn 20)
Pez Gordo (%142-5788; www.pezgordogallery.com;
Obregn 19)
GETTING THERE & AWAY

Air
Serving both San Jos del Cabo and Cabo San

Lucas, Los Cabos International Airport (%142-2111,
146-5013; www.sjdloscabosairport.com) is 10.5km (6.5
miles) north of town. Mexicana (%142-1530)
has an office at Plaza Los Cabos between the
LOS CABOS
San Jos is loaded with shops; stroll down Blvd

Mijares from the plaza and youll encounter
dozens. In rhyme with the towns restaurants,
theres plenty of high-end shopping, with loads
of eye-catching design items, and examples of
the best crafts from throughout the country.
Shopping can be a bit trying here, however,
as salespeople relentlessly coerce passersby
into their shops and small-talk them to death
once inside. Silver jewelry is a huge seller, but
bargain or youll pay more than you would for
the same piece at home. And, fear not, there
are plenty of gaudy souvenirs.
Arte Diseo Decoracin (cnr Zaragoza & Hidalgo) Excellent selection of Talavera (Puebla) ceramics,
as well as high-end silverware.
Antigua Los Cabos (cnr Blvd Mijares 5 & Obregn)
Small selection of womens handbags, fine
tequilas (you can taste em, too) and traditional handicrafts.
Copal (Blvd Mijares near Doblado) Great for lacquered boxes from Olinal, Guerrero; fine
Yucatecan hammocks; Oaxacan wool blankets; fancy glassware and interesting Christmas decorations.
Veryka (% 142-0575; Blvd Mijares 6-B) Wide
selection of outstanding crafts from all over
Mexico.
Fruitlandia (Blvd Mijares near Coronado) Bring home
some fresh traditional sweets such as ground,
sweetened semilla de calabaza (squash seeds),
tamarindo con chile (tamarind paste with
chili), pepitorias (brittle sesame and peanut
bars), candied limes, jamoncillo (milk fudge)
and chilacayote (candied squash). Be sure to
try the bright green biznaga (candied cactus),

a local specialty.
Dulcera Delicia (Doblado west of Mrquez de Len)
Stocks piatas and every kind of Mexican factory candy and kitschy party favor
imaginable.
228 S A N J O S D E L C A B O G e t t i n g A r o u n d
beachfront Paseo San Jos and Paseo Los

Cabos. Its also at the airport, as are offices
for the airlines listed here. For airline websites
and more information, see p266.
Aero California (%142-0943, 413-3700) Flies daily
to/from Los Angeles.

Aeromxico (%142-0341, 146-5097/98) Flies daily
to/from San Diego. Serves mainland Mexican destinations,
with international connections via Mexico City.
Alaska Airlines (%146-5106, 146-5210) Flies
to/from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose
(California), Portland and Seattle.
America West (%142-2880, 146-5380) Flies twice
daily to/from Phoenix.
American Airlines (%142-2735, 146-5300) Flies daily
to/from Los Angeles and DallasFort Worth, and from
November 1 to April 31 to/from Chicago.
Continental Airlines (%142-3840, 146-5040,
146-5050) Flies to/from Houston.
Frontier Airlines (www.frontierairlines.com) Flies
seasonally to/from San Jose (California), San Francisco, Los
Angeles, Sacramento, Denver and Kansas City.
Mexicana (%142-0606, 146-5001/02) Flies twice daily
to/from Los Angeles and daily to Mexico City.
LOS CABOS
Bus
The main bus terminal (%142-1100; Valerio Gonzlez)
is just east of the Transpeninsular. Autotransportes Aguila goes to La Paz (US$17) at least
14 times daily between 6am and 7:30pm; seven
buses travel straight north (via larga or long
route; 3 hours) and the other seven go via
Cabo San Lucas and Todos Santos (via corta
or short route; three hours). The fare to Todos
Santos is US$9 (two hours). There are also
daily buses to Loreto (US$39 to US$43, eight
hours) and Tijuana (US$146, 25 hours).
GETTING AROUND
San Jos is small enough to be pedestrianfriendly; even from the zona hotelera the
walk into town takes only about half an hour.
Outside town, buses, taxis or bicycles may
be necessary.
To/From the Airport

Taxis from the airport to downtown San Jos
or the zona hotelera cost about US$50; they
cost about US$80 to Cabo San Lucas and
somewhere in between to resorts along the
Corridor. Heading the opposite direction,
theyre about US$30 from downtown San
Jos to the airport and around US$45 from
Cabo San Lucas. Top-end hotels often arrange
transportation for their guests.
lonelyplanet.com
A much cheaper alternative are the Los

Cabos Express shuttle services available at
the airport, which charge US$11 to San Jos,
US$12 to any Corridor hotel and about US$13
to Cabo San Lucas. They drop you at your
hotel. The office is just outside the international terminal.
You can take a bus from the airport into
town, but it entails a 20- to 30-minute walk
in the pounding sun, past the car-rental agencies and out the airport access road to the
Transpeninsular. There you can flag a bus to
either San Jos (US$0.80) or Cabo San Lucas
(US$2). From downtown San Jos, buses leave
the main terminal on Valerio Gonzlez to the
airport junction on the Transpeninsular.
Bus
Aguila buses travel from San Jos to Cabo
San Lucas (US$2, 30 minutes), but far more
frequent are the local buses departing from
the Transpeninsular (Mxico 1) just west
of downtown; the price is the same. These
buses will also drop you anywhere along the
Corridor. Buses run down Blvd Mijares to
Playa California (US$0.50). Buses along the
Corridor and to Cabo San Lucas stop running around 10pm; if you plan to go out in
San Lucas for the night, youll have to spring
for a cab.
Car & Taxi

A taxi anywhere in town costs US$3 to US$5,
and a ride to/from Cabo San Lucas costs
about US$30 (ouch!). Taxi is the only public
transport between San Lucas and San Jos
after 10pm.
All major car-rental agencies have offices
at the airport; some have branches downtown. You can also set up a car rental through
your hotel or by calling the company directly.
The car-rental business on the southern
cape is more competitive than elsewhere
on the peninsula, and some good deals with
unlimited mileage are available. Agencies
include the following:
Advantage (%airport 146-0700)
Alamo (%Transpeninsular 146-0626)
Avis (%airport 146-0388, 142-1180)
Dollar (%airport 146-5060, Transpeninsular 142-0100)
Hertz (%airport 146-5088)
National (%airport 146-5020/22)
Thrifty (%airport 146-5030, Transpeninsular 142-2380,
San Jos del Cabo 142-3656; cnr Blvd Mijares & Benito
Jurez, San Jos del Cabo)
lonelyplanet.com
S A N J O S D E L C A B O A r o u n d S a n J o s d e l C a b o 229
AROUND SAN JOS DEL CABO
Pueblo La Playa & Laguna Hills
Eastern Cape Road

One of Bajas classic drives, the Eastern Cape
Rd (see Map p188) is a graded dirt road which
winds, bumps and clatters its way up the
capes breathtaking east coast. It passes Baha
Los Frailes, Cabo Pulmo and La Ribera (all
covered in the Eastern Cape section, p204),
before rejoining the Transpeninsular at Buena
Vista. Its a spectacular drive and possible for
nearly all vehicles, except after heavy storms.
The worst part of the road is the stretch just
south of Baha Los Frailes.
San Jos del Cabo was once the southern
terminus of the road, but construction and
the laying of asphalt has, for all intents and
Getting There & Around

From San Jos, head east on Benito Jurez,
and youll encounter several roundabouts. To
get to Buzzards Bar (about 8km or 5 miles
from San Jos) and the Eastern Cape Rd,
follow the signs toward Laguna Hills and
Zacatitos. To get to La Playita, follow the La
Playita signs and head toward the beach at
the fourth roundabout you come to. Because
the area east of San Jos is changing rapidly
and detours come and go as construction
around Puerto Los Cabos progresses, youll
likely make a wrong turn here or there. The
road is paved as far as Buzzards. Most vehicles can make it all the way to Buena Vista,
experiencing, at worst, serious tooth-chatter
from the washboard.
LOS CABOS
Drive east on Benito Jurez, and in 15 minutes youll hit the village of Pueblo La Playa,
also known as La Playita after the villages
beach. There are several good places to stay
(p224), but, thanks to construction at nearby
Puerto Los Cabos, Pueblo La Playa is much
less tranquil than it was in the past.
Pushing for completion in 2007, Puerto
Los Cabos is a massive 800-hectare (2000acre) resort community with a 535-slip
marina, an ecopark, two new 18-hole golf
courses, luxury hotels, condominiums
and several gated subdivisions with deluxe
vacation homes. The development essentially
engulfs the once tiny fishing village of Pueblo La Playa and has transformed the San
Jos estuary and surrounding coastline for
good. Until the entire development has been
completed, construction will detract significantly from the areas allure. There has been
plenty of controversy over the development
because of its environmental impact on the
area and because numerous town residents
were forced to relocate elsewhere.
Leaving Pueblo La Playa, the road turns
inland to skirt the beachfront developments
of Laguna Hills and El Encanto (which both successfully closed an entire stretch of the coastal
road to the public, making it necessary to
drive inland along the current road). Next
to Laguna Hills youll find delicious food,
cold beer and a great atmosphere at friendly
Buzzards Bar (mains US$5-10; h8am-8:30pm Mon-Sat,
9am-2pm Sun). Buzzards is part of La Fonda del
Mar (p224) and makes for a fabulous breakfast stop before heading up along the Eastern
Cape Rd.
purposes, nudged the terminus up to Laguna

Hills, just outside Buzzards Bar parking
lot. This is where the dirt now begins. From
here on up, the desert scenery, backed by
stunning little beaches and rocky coves, is
astonishing.
Heading north from Buzzards, youll
soon pass Punta Gorda (home to the surf break
known as Shipwrecks) and the increasingly
populated Santa Cruz de los Zacatitos. About
10km (6 miles) offshore from Zacatitos are
the famous Gorda Banks, two seamounts that
are prime fishing grounds for marlin and
other big-game fish; they are also popular
with divers.
Immediately after Zacatitos, the fences disappear for a short stretch and you reach the
first accessible beach, Playa Tortuga, named for
the turtles that nest here.
About 25.5km (16 miles) from San Jos
theres more beach access at Playa Santa
Agueda, and again by way of an arroyo (dry
riverbed) about 1km (0.5 miles) further on.
Shortly after Santa Agueda is the turnoff to
the Palo Escopeta Road, which leads back to the
Transpeninsular (a good way back to San
Jos if you dont want to go all the way up
the cape). A few miles past this junction, a
roadside monument commemorates the completion of the Camino Rural Costero (Rural
Coast Rd), better known as the Eastern Cape
Rd. It was finished in 1984.
About 59km (37 miles) from San Jos, you
reach Baha Los Frailes (p209). After 78km (49
miles) from San Jos, or several miles past
Cabo Pulmo (p207), the pavement begins
again.
230 L O S C A B O S C O R R I D O R S i g h t s & A c t i v i t i e s
LOS CABOS CORRIDOR

%624
LOS CABOS
The 29km (18-mile) stretch of the Transpeninsular between San Jos del Cabo and
Cabo San Lucas is commonly referred to as
The Corridor. This state-of-the-art, divided
four-lane highway parallels the most beautiful
stretch of coast in the Los Cabos area. Its a
visual feast of secluded coves, jutting points,
generous sandy beaches, teeming tidal pools,
rolling desertscapes and drop-dead-gorgeous
ocean views.
Naturally its also the arena for the areas
most aggressive developers, who have snapped
up and divvied up the choicest beachfront
properties to build sprawling resorts and
condo complexes. Practically all of them are
of the sophisticated, extremely expensive variety, intended to appeal to travelers with social
statuses ranging from upscale to filthy rich.
Interspersed between the hotels are worldclass golf courses seven at last count with
more in the planning stages. Most locals seem
to welcome all this expansion, primarily for its
job- and income-creating potential, and many
have migrated from mainland Mexico to work
in the tourist industry this development generates. Meanwhile, old-time travelers lament
the areas loss of charm and natural beauty.
Still, whether you stay on the Corridor or not,
exploring its beaches is one of the highlights
of Los Cabos.
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES

Beaches
All along the Transpeninsular youll see blue

beach-access signs sporting pictographs of
the types of activities available (snorkeling,
fishing, diving, surfing etc) at the beach the
sign marks. Parking is along the highway or
in parking lots. If youre taking the bus, ask
the driver to drop you off at your beach of
choice. By law, all Mexican beaches are open
to the public, but access from the highway is
becoming increasingly restricted because of
developments. If you look like a tourist, youll
have no problem walking through the lobbies
of the bigger resorts, strolling past the pool
area and out to the beach.
The Corridor beach closest to San Jos is
Playa Costa Azul, at Km 28. The excellent surfing break known as Zippers is here. Access to
the beach and the break is through Zippers
lonelyplanet.com
Bar & Grill (p234). Surfers also hang out at

the much smaller adjacent Playa Acapulquito,
accessible at Km 28 just before the lookout.
The beach is directly below Cabo Surf Hotel
(p233), which has a great restaurant and rents
surfboards.
The next beach up is Playa Palmilla, at Km
27. Its a long crescent of fine sand popular
with swimmers and water-sports enthusiasts.
Facilities include a dive shop, equipment concession and restaurant.
The Hotel Meli Cabo Real, at Km 19.5,
sits on a lovely cove known as Playa Cabo Real,
which is protected by a breakwater, making it
safe for swimming and water sports. The hotel
also provides access to Playa La Concha, a beach
club (admission is charged). East of here is
Playa Bledito, sought out by beachcombers.
One of the largest open stretches of beach is
at Playa El Tule, at Km 15, reached through the
arroyo at Puente Los Tules. Surfers come here,
as do the occasional beach campers. There are
zero facilities.
Next up is Playa Chileno at Km 14 (actually, between Km 14 and Km 15), which offers excellent swimming and snorkeling and
fresh-water showers. A concession here rents
kayaks, snorkeling and dive equipment. The
beach is easily accessible from the road and
just a short walk from a large parking lot. If
you want a quick and easy escape, this is a
good bet. On weekends it fills up with local
families.
Perhaps the nicest Corridor beach is Playa
Santa Mara on its namesake Baha Santa Mara, a
sheltered cove teeming with underwater creatures. Numerous snorkeling excursions from
San Jos and Cabo San Lucas come here, so
waters may occasionally get crowded. Snorkeling gear and beach chairs are available for
rent, but theres no infrastructure otherwise.
Its reached via a sandy road between Km 12
and Km 13 and theres a guarded parking lot
(free). If you only have one day to hit a Corridor beach, this is probably the one.
Access to Playa Las Viudas, also known as
Dolphin Beach, is via a sandy road next to
the Hotel Twin Dolphin turnoff at Km 12.
Depending on road conditions, it may be
advisable to walk the 400m (0.25 miles) to
the beach, which is secluded and good for
swimming.
Playa Barco Varado now fronts the mega-sized
Cabo del Sol development and is better for
diving and snorkeling than for swimming.
o Se
co
Playa Solmar
alto
Cabo
Falso
Faro Viejo
(Old Lighthouse)
El S
Cabo
San
Lucas
Lands
End
Playa
Mdano
11
MEX
14
See Cabo San Lucas

Map (p236)
Monuments
Playa Cabo Bello
21
15
Lo
le
Tu
Puente El Tule
El
13
23
19
Sea of Cortez
Playa Bledito
MEX
20
4
9
Punta Palmilla
Playa Palmilla
12
5 km
3 miles
Pueblo
La Playa
La Playita
Puerto
Los Cabos
Playa Costa Azul

25 Zipper's
The Rock
To Los Cabos
International
Airport (10.5km);
La Paz (192km)
San Jos
See San Jos del Cabo
del Cabo
Map (pp220-1)
16
18 Playa Cabo Real
(El Carrizal)
Playa El Tule
Playa Chileno
Baha Santa Mara

Playa Santa Mara
Playa Las Viudas (Dolphin Beach)
17
MEX
22 Playa Barco Varado
19
Salt
MEX
10
s
Tran
24
E
lar
nsu
peni
bu
E1
D2
C4
C4
E2
D3
D2
E2
E1
C4
C4
E2
EATING
7 Seas............................................(see 12)
Pitahayas........................................(see 21)
Sunset da Mona Lisa........................24 C4
Zippers Bar & Grill............................25 F1
SLEEPING
Cabo Surf Hotel................................12
Casa del Mar Hotel & Resort............13
Club Cabo Motel & Camp Resort.....14
Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos...15
Hotel Meli Cabo Real......................16
Hotel Twin Dolphin..........................17
Las Ventanas al Paraiso....................18
One & Only Palmilla.........................19
Posada Chabela.................................20
Sheraton Hacienda del Mar..............21
Villa Serena Trailer Park................... 22
Westin Regina Resort Los Cabos.......23
i
lT
To Todos Santos (67km);

La Paz (143km)
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES

Baja Wild..........................................(see 4)
Cabo del Sol Desert Course................1 C3
Cabo del Sol Ocean Course............... 2 D4
Cabo Real Golf Course........................3 E2
Costa Azul Surf Shop...........................4 E1
Cuadra San Francisco.........................5 D2
El Dorado Golf Course........................6 E2
Gordo Banks Pangas...........................7 F1
Palmilla Golf Course............................8 E2
Playa Acapulquito..........................(see 12)
Playa La Concha.............................(see 16)
Querencia Golf Course........................9 E1
Raven Golf Club...............................10 B4
Red Rose Riding Stables....................11 B4
C
os
Ca
b
mo
Lo
nco
do
El
Cerro Bla
or
ri
0
0
lonelyplanet.com
LOS CABOS
LOS CABOS CORRIDOR
L O S C A B O S C O R R I D O R 231
232 L O S C A B O S C O R R I D O R S i g h t s & A c t i v i t i e s
Access is through the Cabo del Sol entrance

at Km 10. The closest surf beach to Cabo San
Lucas is at Playa Cabo Bello, reached via the
Misones del Cabo turnoff at Km 5. The break
is known as Monuments.
LOS CABOS
Surfing
The entire Los Cabos area has great surf, with
several reef and point breaks along the coast.
The added bonus: warm water. The closest surf
to San Jos, and probably the most crowded
break on the peninsula (with good reason), is
Zippers, at Km 28.5 on the Transpeninsular.
Its a reef point break and often loaded with
locals. Nearby Playa Acapulquito (p230) has been
nicknamed Old Mans because its forgiving
wave is great for beginners, long boarders
and apparently old men. Between these
breaks is The Rock. These are all at Playa Costa
Azul (the lengthy beach northeast of Punta
Palmilla) and mostly visible from the highway
lookout just west of San Jos.
There are several other breaks along the
Corridor (p230), including the excellent
right at Playa El Tule (near Km 16.2) and the
powerful left point-break at Monuments, on
the western side of Cabo Bello. The latter is
accessible through the Misiones del Cabo
development at Km 5.5 and is the closest surf
to Cabo San Lucas.
There are a handful of good breaks up the
Eastern Cape Rd (p229) as well. They include
the right point-break at Shipwrecks (Map p188),
between Punta Gorda and Santa Cruz de los
Zacatitos, and the mighty Punta Perfecta (Map
p188), further north. Beyond here, the Sea of
Cortez begins to resemble a lake.
For rentals and repairs, head to Costa Azul
Surf Shop (Map p231; %147-0071; Transpeninsular),
which sits above Zippers, on the inland side
of the highway. Stop here for the latest surf
report and to pick up its free surf-break map.
Surfboards cost US$20 per day. They cost
US$35 per day at the beachfront stand below
the Cabo Surf Hotel (opposite). Nomadas de
Baja (p223) offers full-day surfing lessons for
US$95 per person, gear included, and Baja
Wild (right) offers lessons for US$85/105 per
half-/full day.
Water Sports
The best snorkeling along the Los Cabos Corridor is at Playa Santa Mara. Concessions
at Playa Chileno and Playa Santa Mara run
two-hour snorkeling trips for about US$25,
lonelyplanet.com
though you can do much the same on your

own by going right to the cove. Dive operators based in Cabo San Lucas (p242) offer
snorkeling trips to sites off the Corridor and
elsewhere.
Baja Wild (Map p231;%172-6300; www.bajawild
.com; Transpeninsular Km 28, Playa Costa Azul) offers wellreceived kayak-and-snorkeling combo trips for
US$60/120 for a half-/full day. Its a reputable
operation with bilingual guides.
Horseback Riding
Cuadra San Francisco (Map p231; %144-0160; www
.loscaboshorses; Transpeninsular Km 19.5) is a full-fledged
equestrian center with excellent horses, equipment, trainers and guides. Theres a big sign
on the highway near Km 19.5. Closer to Cabo
San Lucas, Red Rose Riding Stables (Map p231;
%143-4826; Transpeninsular Km 4) also maintains a
stable of well-treated horses.
Golf
The worldwide popularity of golf has skyrocketed in recent years, so it was only a matter of
time before a developer would have visions
of the pristine Los Cabos coastline covered
with velvety green blankets. This man was
Don Koll from Orange County, California,
owner of the Hotel Palmilla. So when he,
in 1990, asked golfing guru Jack Nicklaus
to design three nine-hole courses near the
hotel, Los Cabos took the first step toward
becoming the premier golfing destination it is
today: no fewer than six signature championship courses now grace the Corridor some
of the most spectacularly set courses on the
planet.
By all accounts, each of these coastal courses
is a golfers dream and an environmentalists
nightmare, although local regulations at least
require all golf courses to be irrigated with
gray water.
The following courses are described from
east to west. Green fees change with the season, with winter rates (generally, mid-October
to mid-June) the highest. Summer green fees
(the rest of the year) can be nearly half the
winter rate. Most courses offer twilight fees
(more like roaster fees) for play after anytime
between 10:30am and noon in summer and
1:30pm and 3pm in winter, when it can be
brutally hot. All green fees quoted here include golf cart, driving range, bottled water
and tax. Renting a set of clubs will set you
back another US$50 or so.
Querencia (Map p231; private course) Tom Fazio

designed; members only.
Palmilla (Map p231; www.oneandonlyresorts.com; green
fees winter/summer US$255/190) Jack Nicklaus signature
course; 27 holes, 6900 yards, par 72. Cabos first signature
course, with 27 holes between the Arroyo nine, Mountain
nine and Ocean nine.
El Dorado (Map p231; private course) Jack Nicklaus
signature course; members only.
Cabo Real (Map p231; %800-543-2044; www.caboreal
.com; winter/summer US$260/180) Robert Trent Jones
signature course; 18 holes (three oceanfront), 6988 yards,
par 72. Front nine considered toughest in Los Cabos. Host
of two Senior Slams.
Cabo del Sol Ocean Course (Map p231; %1458200; www.cabodelsol.com; green fees winter/summer
US$295/220) Jack Nicklaus signature course; 18 holes,
7103 yards, par 72. Nearly 2 miles of oceanfront course and
often referred to as the Mexican Pebble Beach. Listed by
Golf Magazine as one of top 100 courses in the world.
Cabo del Sol Desert Course (Map p231; %1458200; www.cabodelsol.com; green fees winter/summer
US$220/185) Tom Weiskopf signature course; 18 holes,
7097 yards, par 72. Inland course with views of Sea of
Cortez at every hole.
Raven Golf Club (Country Club Cabo San Lucas; Map
p231; %143-4653; www.golfincabo.com; green fees
winter/summer US$169/119) Roy Dye signature course; 18
holes, 7220 yards, par 72.
SLEEPING
For more information on where to sleep in
Cabo, see p219.
Hotels & Camping
5117; www.cabosurfhotel; Transpeninsular Km 28; r US$180670; pas) If you want to surf and treat
yourself well, this is the spot. Right on the

beach at Playa Acapulquito, this deluxe surfers favorite offers giant, beautiful rooms with
views of the break, direct beach access and
a fabulous restaurant for refueling sessions

before getting back in the water. Try for an
upper-level room they have balconies and
views, unlike the lower-level rooms which
only open onto the grass. Its at Km 28, easily
spotted from the road.
With Corridor properties fetching astronomical prices, beachfront camping has become a thing of the past. The last beachfront
RV park (Brisa del Mar) closed its doors in
2007. The only other campground/RV park in
the Corridor is Villa Serena Trailer Park (%143-
0509, in the USA 800-932-5599; www.grupobahia.com; site

US$21; s) within a resort complex at Km 7.5,
near Playa Barco Varado. The park has 54

unadorned but sunny sites with full hookups
and a great blufftop restaurant. Facilities
include a pool, Jacuzzi, laundry, showers and
bathrooms.
Resorts
All the resorts on the Corridor fall into the
five-star luxury category with amenities and
prices to match. Breathtaking bay views,
gorgeous landscaping and top-rated service
are de rigeur, as are facilities such as swimming pool(s) with swim-up bars, lighted tennis
courts, multiple restaurants and bars, fitness
centers and room service. Most rooms have
ocean views and private terraces. Rarely do
they cost less than US$200 per night. Some hotels enforce minimum stays (especially around
holidays) of two or more nights. All resorts
can arrange for a wide range of activities from
sportfishing to horseback riding to diving.
The Corridors resorts include (but are not
limited to) those here, and are listed from east
to west. The following rates are all per night,
and are only meant as a rough idea of what
rooms cost. Unless noted, the following hotels
operate on the European plan. For more on
resorts, see p219.
One & Only Palmilla (Hotel Palmilla Resort; %1467000, in the USA 800-637-2226, 866-829-2977; www
.oneandonlyresorts.com; Transpeninsular Km 27; r US$375-1125,
ste US$650-2600; pnais) Built in 1956
by Rod Rodrguez, son of a former Mexican

president, this is the Corridors original Hollywood hideaway. Its location against the rocks
at Playa Palmilla is simply unbeatable. Its very
classy, and perfect for a romantic getaway. The
golf course is tops.
Westin Regina Resort Los Cabos (%142-9000, in
the USA 888-625-5144; www.westin.com/loscabos; Transpeninsular Km 22.5; r US$181-2231; pnais)
LOS CABOS
Posada Chabela (%172-6490, in the USA 310-492-5629; r

US$89-109; n) Clinging to a hillside, high above
Playa Costa Azul, Posada Chabela is a beautifully designed B&B with four private casitas
(little houses) set within a meandering garden
of banana trees, palms, succulents and other
mood-enhancing vegetation. The views over
the ocean are vast. Each casita has a private terrace and hammock, and breakfast is included.
At press time, the new owner had just taken
over and promised all sorts of enticing additions. At Km 28.5, take the dirt road that leads
uphill beside the landmark bar Havanas.
Cabo Surf Hotel (%142-2666, in the USA 858-964-
L O S C A B O S C O R R I D O R S l e e p i n g 233
234 L O S C A B O S C O R R I D O R E a t i n g
This mega-resort boasts daring, modern architecture and landscaping designed to complement the desert colors and surroundings.
With a bit of imagination (and a couple of
margaritas), you can see what the architect
was going for: the arches of the hotel reference
the arches of Lands End. You can literally
fall out of the swimming pool into the sand;
proximity to the beach is one of the hotels
most alluring features. And the beach itself
is to die for. Families and couples will both
feel comfortable.
Hotel Meli Cabo Real (%144-0000, in the USA 800336-3542; www.solmelia.com; Transpeninsular Km 19.5; d
US$270-795; pnais) Of the Meli com-
panys two Cabo hotels (the other is in Cabo San

Lucas), this is the family- and group-oriented
one. Its at Playa Bledito and is easily recognized by its glass and marble pyramid lobby.
The resort was recently renovated and sits on
a lovely, breakwater-protected cove next to the
Cabo Real golf course. Theres a small section
of beach thats good for swimming. Great for
families. All-inclusive.
Las Ventanas al Paraiso (%144-2800, in the USA
LOS CABOS
888-525-0483; www.lasventanas.com; Transpeninsular Km

19.5; d US$875-6875; pnais) In a class
by itself, the most exclusive of Cabos resorts

oozes Zenlike serenity and charms with deceptively simple landscaping and architecture.
A luxurious spa and golf course are adjacent.
A minimum stay of four or seven days is required in January, February and around most
holidays. If you can afford to stay here, please
participate in the adopt-an-author program
by contacting the Lonely Planet author at the
front of this book.
Casa del Mar Hotel & Resort (%144-0030, in the USA
888-227-9621; www.casadelmarmexico.com; Transpeninsular Km
19.5; d US$560-700; pnais) Comparatively
intimate (24 rooms and 36 suites), the Casa del

Mar, like the Meli, is part of the Cabo Real
development that also includes the Ventanas,
a condo complex and a golf course. And holy
hot-tubs, Batman, you should see the spa!
Hotel Twin Dolphin (%145-8190, in the USA 800-4218925; www.twindolphin.com; Transpeninsular Km 12; r US$205800; pnais) Also an original Corridor
resort, the Twin Dolphin is built on a more

intimate scale (50 rooms and suites) at Playa
Las Viudas. Assets include a jogging trail and
free shuttle to Cabo. Rooms with balconies and
terraces are divine. Another of its wildcards is
its proximity to Playa Santa Mara, one of the
most beautiful beaches on the Corridor.
Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos (%145-6200,

in the USA 800-343-7821; www.fiestamericana.com; Transpeninsular Km 10.3; r US$300-2500; pnais)
Neighboring the Sheraton Hacienda del
Mar, the colorful Fiesta Americana is part
of a Mexican chain and has 330 rooms, three
restaurants, a beautiful pool area and an
expansive beach. It has a sophisticated flare.
Sheraton Hacienda del Mar (%145-8000, in the USA
888-672-7137; www.sheratonloscabos.com; Transpeninsular
Km 10; r from US$250, ste from US$880; pnais)
Part of the Cabo del Sol development, which

also encompasses two golf courses, the
Hacienda del Mar is distinguished by its three
dramatic, riverlike swimming pools and its
warm nouveau-colonial atmosphere.
EATING
Eating along the Corridor takes place mostly
at the resort hotels, where you should figure
on spending at least US$40 per person for a
full meal, including wine.
Pitahayas (%145-8010; Sheraton Hacienda del Mar;
h5:30-10pm; mains US$20-35) Pitahayas is one of
the most highly regarded restaurants in the
Corridor and a sure-shot if youre out for a
decadent evening. It specializes in Pacific Rim
cuisine, including vegetarian selections and
has fabulous ocean views.
Notable eateries outside the resorts include
the following.
Zippers Bar & Grill (%172-6162; Transpeninsular Km
28, Zippers Beach; mains US$7-15; h11am-10pm) Zippers caters to surfers (meaning big portions of
pub grub) and specializes in mesquite-grilled
beef, ribs, beer-battered shrimp and classic
rock. The hamburgers and fish and chips are
both excellent, but it hurts every time Free
Bird rolls around (again) on the stereo.
7 Seas (%142-2666; Transpeninsular Km 28; mains
US$9-18; hbreakfast, lunch & dinner) Inside Cabo
Surf Hotel, 7 Seas prepares seafood and
steaks with equal aplomb, though the former
(including shrimp risotto, lobster, seafood-stuffed peppers and more) is the real
specialty. Dinner atmosphere is romantic yet
casual, while lunches and breakfasts are laidback affairs.
Sunset da Mona Lisa (%145-8160; Transpeninsular
Km 5.5; mains US$17-35) No matter the silly name
the restaurants dramatic, terraced, clifftop
setting makes it one of the best spots in the
Corridor to watch the sun set over Lands End.
The menu is strictly Italian. Located at the
Misiones del Cabo development at Km 5.5.
lonelyplanet.com
GETTING THERE & AROUND

Public buses running between San Jos and
Cabo San Lucas will drop you anywhere along
the Corridor for US$2. Taxis from either town
cost US$10 to US$30, depending on where
you want to go.
CABO SAN LUCAS

%624 / pop 90,000
HISTORY
Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the area
of present-day Cabo San Lucas was inhabited by the indigenous Peric. Spaniard Juan
Rodrguez Cabrillo landed here in 1542, but
the place remained a backwater, visited only
by occasional privateers such as Sir Francis
Drake (in 1578) and Tomas Cavendish (in
1587), who used the natural harbor as a base
for staging raids on Spains Manila galleons
heading to Acapulco.
Continued pirate attacks on their treasureladen galleons prompted the Spanish to investigate establishing a stronghold in the cape,
but, while Cabo San Lucas had a natural harbor, it had no fresh water. A Spanish presence
wasnt secured in the area until the founding
of Misin San Jos del Cabo, some 32km (20
miles) east, in 1730. The harbor at Cabo San
Lucas remained a hideout for pirates well into
the 18th century (which explains the plethora
of pirate names and activities in Cabo San
Lucas today). Aside from small-scale ventures
by local inhabitants, Cabo San Lucas remained
a relative backwater until sportfishing hit the
cape in the 1950s and 1960s. With the completion of the Transpeninsular in 1973, San Lucas
began to attract more American road-trippers
as well as a steady increase in developers that
has grown exponentially ever since.
ORIENTATION
At the southernmost tip of the Baja peninsula,
Cabo San Lucas is 1694km (1059 miles) from
Tijuana and, via Mxico 1, 221km (137 miles)
from La Paz; via Mxico 19, its 153km (95
miles) from La Paz. The Transpeninsular is
also called Carretera a San Jos del Cabo,
whereas Mxico 19 is referred to as Carretera
a Todos Santos. A bypass road skirting Cabos
northeastern edge connects the two.
The towns main drag, Blvd Lzaro Crdenas
(abbreviated to Crdenas), is a continuation of
the Transpeninsular. Past the intersection with
Zaragoza, it peters out into a minor shopping
street while most of the action continues along
Blvd Marina, culminating at Lands End. Most
services are along Crdenas and Blvd Marina.
The commercial area north of Crdenas here
has a more local flair.
Cabo does not use street numbers, so
addresses always specify the nearest cross
streets.
INFORMATION
Bookstores
Libros Libros Books Books (Map pp238-9; Blvd Marina

s/n) Good selection of English novels and magazines.
Emergency Services
Cruz Roja (Red Cross; Map p236; %ambulance 066,
143-3300; Mxico 19, Km 121)
Fire (%068, 143-3577)
IMSS Hospital (Map p236; %emergency 143-1194,
nonemergency 143-1589) Just north of the Pemex station
on Mxico 19.
LOS CABOS
Suspended in a salty paradise at the tip of the

peninsula, Cabo San Lucas is Bajas most brazenly self-indulgent destination, packed with
people year-round who arrive by plane, yacht
and car to partake in the fun. With its vast array
of excellent restaurants, bars that stay open
practically round-the-clock, night clubs, strip
joints, stunning beaches, luxury hotels and
activities ranging from parasailing to banana
boating, this is the place let it all hang out.
In all sincerity, one could easily yield to
lamenting the development, the exorbitant
prices, the modern marinas increasingly
strip-mall-like atmosphere, the materialism
and the gringo hordes that have all come to
define Mexicos most expensive destination.
But, armed with the right information and
a good plan, you can tap this town for the
funky, down-to-earth experiences that do still
exist and partake in the hedonism that attracts frolickers from around the world.
Remember, from downtown Cabo San
Lucas you can hop in a rental car and beat
it out the dirt roads into spectacular desert
scenery, to wee ranch villages or to empty
beach paradises all in less than an hour. As
an independent hotel owner once put it: Ill
have guests in town for a few days, and then
they rent a car to get out of Cabo. They come
back all wild-eyed and shaking, and when I
ask them where they went, they say, I dont
know. But it was amazing!
C A B O S A N LU C A S H i s t o r y 235
ad
r
ue
Hi
re
ro
ata
ap
ro
de
Blvd
Ma
Ca
da
lgo
c
lgo n Lu
da
Hi o Sa
b
a
C
as
an
S
bo
13
Av So
lmar
25
MEX
24
19
n Jos
23
Paseo Sa
28
Cruise Ship
Dock
ar
olm
Av S
16
26
22
22
18
Club Cascades
de Baja
Jos
17
San
11
Baha de Cabo San Lucas
To Club Cabo
Motel & Resort
Camp (1.5km)
C1
C1
C1
C1
10
Lands
End
Marin
Lu
cas
D2
B1
B1
D2
C2
D2
A1
C4
D2
C1
D4
D2
D2
TRANSPORT
Payless.......................................28 C1
ENTERTAINMENT
Las Varitas.................................27 C2
Passion Club & Lounge............(see 14)
DRINKING
Nikki Beach..............................(see 14)
Rainbow Bar..............................25 C3
Sandbar.....................................26 D2
Whale Watcher Bar..................(see 13)
EATING
Billygan's...................................19
El Michoacano............................20
Huarachazo................................21
Mango Deck..............................22
Peacock's...................................23
The Office................................. 24
SLEEPING
Faro Viejo Trailer Park................12
Hotel Finisterra..........................13
Hotel Meli San Lucas................14
Hotel Olas..................................15
Hotel Solmar Suites....................16
Pueblo Bonito Resort.................17
Pueblo Bonito Ros Resort.........18
Los Frailes
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES

Amigos del Mar........................... 5 C4
Andromeda Divers...................(see 19)
El Arco..........................................6 E4
JT Watersports.............................7 C3
Juancho's.................................(see 26)
Neptune's Finger..........................8 E4
Oficina de Pesca..........................9 C4
Playa del Amor...........................10 E4
Rancho Collins...........................11 D1
Solmar Sportfishing Fleet.........(see 16)
Tio Sports................................(see 14)
INFORMATION
Banamex.......................................1
Dr Z's Internet Caf & Bar............2
Immigration Office.......................3
Lavandera....................................4
14 Playa Mdano
to
oad
R
Old
Marina Cabo San Lucas
To Latitude 22+ Oceanview

Roadhouse (4.5km);
San Jos del Cabo (29km);
Airport (39km)
Hacienda Beach Resort

(Under Renovation)
Playa Solmar
Puerto
Paraso
Mall
27
as
en
lec
rd
C
po
d
Blv arina
M
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Puerto
Paraso
Mall
15
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an
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Ca
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See Central Cabo San Lucas Map (pp2389)
ert
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500 m
0.3 miles
236 C A B O S A N LU C A S
am
c
eO
re
Ob
20
To Cabo Taco (100m)

& La Candelaria (30.5km)
0
0
Vic
Oc
To Mxico 19 (3km);
IMSS Hospital;
Main Bus Terminal;
(3km); Cruz Roja;
21
Faro Viejo (5km)
12
n
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ral
Ali
Mo
s
are
ros
mo
ata
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CABO SAN LUCAS
nd
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LOS CABOS
lonelyplanet.com
C A B O S A N LU C A S I n f o r m a t i o n 237
CABO SAN LUCAS IN
Two Days
Start off the morning by renting snorkel gear and taking a water taxi to Playa del Amor (p240)
for some beach and underwater fun. Return for lunch at Nikki Beach (p250) on Playa Mdano
(p240) to maximize beach time. Take a sunset pirate cruise aboard the 19th-century Sunderland
(p244). Return to land for a late dinner at Mi Casa (p248) before a long night of bar hopping.
On your second day, rent a car and drive to Cabo Pulmo (p207), stopping in Pueblo La Playa
(p229) for a massive breakfast burrito at Buzzards Bar (p229).
After snorkeling the coral reef, have lunch at Nancys (p209) and, on your way back to Cabo
San Lucas, stop at Mesn del El Ahorcado (p226) in San Jos del Cabo for dinner. After this,
youll surely sleep the whole flight home.
Four Days
Follow the two-day plan but hang on to your rental car so you can drive to La Candelaria (p252)
for traditional ceramics and a taste of ranch life. Go from ranchos to riches by dining at fabulous
Mariscos Mocambo (p248) upon your return to Cabo San Lucas. On day four, head to San Jos
del Cabo in the morning for Los Cabos best shopping (p227); hit the Mercado Municipal (p225)
for local action and a cheap lunch. Spend the afternoon on Playa Santa Mara (p230) and return
to Cabo for more nighttime merrymaking.
One Week
To the four-day plan add an overnight trip to historic Todos Santos (p210) or to vibrant La Paz
(p189) for a spectacular sea-kayaking trip to Isla Espritu Santo (p200).
Laundry
emergency 143-3977; cnr Old Rd to San Jos & Crdenas)

Next to the McDonalds.
Laundries charge about US$5 per load.

Lavandera (Map p236; cnr Revolucin & Gmez Faras)
Lavandera California (Map pp238-9; Plaza Los Arcos,
Immigration
%143-0135; cnr Crdenas & Faras; h9am-2pm Mon-Fri)
cnr Leona Vicario & Revolucin)

Lavandera Santa Fe (Map pp238-9; cnr Zaragoza &
Obregn) In Hotel Santa Fe.
Internet Access
Media
Using the internet in San Lucas can put a serious dent in the wallet if you are not careful.
Caf Cabo Mail (Map pp238-9; cnr Cardenas & Zaragoza,
There are loads of English-language publications floating around town, most of them
geared blatantly toward selling real estate.
There are a handful of old faithfuls, however,
that contain plenty of good information,
from tongue-in-cheek news bits to restaurant
reviews. Look out for the following.
Destino: Los Cabos Quarterly newspaper with good
Immigration office (Servicios Migratorios; Map p236;
Plaza Armburo; per hr US$6) Air-con, big booths, fast

computers.
Corner (Map pp238-9; cnr Crdenas & Matamoros; per hr
US$4) Full bar, great for drinking while typing.
Dr Zs Internet Caf & Bar (Map p236; Crdenas near
16 de Septiembre; per hr US$4) Full bar, coffee.
Internet Express (Map pp238-9; Crdenas near
Matamoros; per hr US$2.50) Cheap.
Internet Resources
Cabo Bobs (www.cabobob.com) Great site, for Cabo
Bobs humor as much as for his trove of information.
Los Cabos Guide (www.loscabosguide.com) Hands down

the most comprehensive guide to Los Cabos on
the internet.
Los Cabos Tourism Board (www.visitcabo.com) The
tourism boards official site is clunky and rather useless.
articles about lesser-known area attractions as well as

hotel and restaurant profiles.
Gringo Gazette (www.gringogazette.com) Englishlanguage biweekly publication with an offbeat but
surprisingly informative editorial approach, despite the
preponderance of real-estaterelated articles. Geared
toward both the visitor and resident.
Los Cabos Magazine Published twice yearly. Useful,
informative and fun to look at, its packed with hotel and
restaurant reviews, details about beaches, golfing and
other activities, plus several good maps. The cover price is
US$5.95 but you can often find it for free.
LOS CABOS
Police (Map pp238-9; %emergency 060, non-
238 C A B O S A N LU C A S C e n t r a l C a b o s S a n Lu c a s
lonelyplanet.com
CENTRAL CABO SAN LUCAS

A
30
33
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ore
os
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in
luc
vo
Re
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B4
E1
D5
D5
D1
E1
D4
D4
D3
C1
E5
E3
D1
E5
25
am
SLEEPING
Bungalows Breakfast Inn..........21
Cabo Inn...................................22
Casa Bella................................ 23
Hotel Dos Mares......................24
Hotel El Dorado........................25
Hotel Los Arcos.........................26
Hotel Los Milagros...................27
Hotel Mar de Cortez................28
Hotel Mlida............................29
Hotel Santa Fe..........................30
Hotel Tesoro.............................31
Las Margaritas Inn....................32
Posada San Antonio.................33
Siesta Suites Hotel....................34
Ob
Oc
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES

Cabo Expeditions.....................11 E6
Casa de la Cultura................... 12 D3
Dream Maker...........................13 E6
Gricelda's Smokehouse..........(see 13)
Jungle Cruise.........................(see 31)
Lands End Divers.....................14 E6
Minervas Baja Tackle...............15 E4
Neptune Divers......................(see 20)

Pez Gato I & Pez Gato II...........16 E6
Picante Bluewater
re
tub
17 F3
Sportfishing...........................
Oc
e
d
Pisces
Sportfishing Fleet............18 E6
12
Sportfishing & Boat Tours
Docks...................................19 E6
Underwater Diversions.............20 E6
reg
To Todos
Santos (77km);
La Paz (153km)
o
rag
Za
INFORMATION
Baja Money Exchange................1 E5
Banca Serfin...............................2 E3
Banco Santander........................3 D5
Caf Cabo Mail..........................4 E3
Internet Express.........................5 D4
Lavandera California.............(see 26)
Lavandera Santa Fe...............(see 30)
Libros Libros Books Books...........6 E5
Los Delfines...........................(see 26)
Police Station..............................7 F1
Post Office..................................8 F1
Secretaria de Turismo de Baja
California Sur.....................(see 18)
The Corner................................ 9 D4
US Consulate............................10 E5
lo
aso
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20
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27
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21
LOS CABOS
DRINKING
Barmetro..............................(see 17)
El Squid Roe.............................63 E3
Giggling Marlin......................(see 44)
Hemingway's...........................64 D4
65 E4
Jungle Bar................................
n
ci
66 E2
Love Shack...............................
tu
i
t
s
67 F3
Nowhere Bar............................
on
C
Panchos..................................68 D5
TangaTanga..........................(see 42)
de
TRANSPORT
Advantage...............................79
Aero California.........................80
Alamo......................................81
Buses to San Jos......................82
Dollar.......................................83
E2
E5
F2
F2
F2
as
en
23
Parque
Amelia
Wilkes
55
ro
de
Ma
37
51
24
as
D4
E3
D4
E3
E3
D4
70
64
uc
SHOPPING
Faces of Mexico.......................73
Flea Market..............................74
Galeras Zen-Mar..................... 75
Tierra Huichol...........................76
Veryka.....................................77
Wixrarika................................. 78
5
Plaza
de los
Mariachis
78
as
en
rd
C
nL
Sa
ENTERTAINMENT
Again & Again..........................69 E2
Cabo Wabo Cantina................ 70 D4
Mambo Caf............................71 E6
Sancho Panza........................(see 58)
Zoo..........................................72 E3
yo
bo
Ca
EATING
Armburo Supermarket............35 E3
Baja Cantina.............................36 E6
Cabo Coffee Co.......................37 D5
Crazy Lobster.......................... 38 D5
El Oasis....................................39 D6
El Pescador...............................40 E3
El Pollo de Oro.........................41 E2
Fish House................................42 E5
French Riviera...........................43 E2
Giggling Marlin........................44 E4
Gordo Lele...............................45 E5
La Europea...............................46 F3
La Palapa The Gus....................47 E3
La Pampa................................ 48 D6
La Trattoria...............................49 E3
Los Paisas..................................50 E1
Mams Royal Caf................. 51 D5
Margaritavilla...........................52 E3
Mariscos Mazatln...................53 F2
Mariscos Mocambo..................54 E2
Mi Casa................................... 55 D5
O Mole Mo.............................56 E4
Restaurant Doa Lolita............57 D3
Sancho Panza...........................58 E5
Seor Lechn...........................59 E2
Shrimp Factory.........................60 E5
Solomon's Landing...................61 E6
Spencers...............................(see 28)
Tutto Bene.............................. 62 D6
73
C
rd
errer
28
gel H
75
38
68
ata
p
Za
48
39
62
C A B O S A N LU C A S D a n g e r s & A n n o y a n c e s 239
lonelyplanet.com
0
0
300 m
0.2 miles
F
To San Jos
del Cabo
(29km)
Me
50
a
oz
nd
26
aV
on
Le
rio
ic a
41
22
59
Cabo San Lucas)
Baja Money Exchange (Map pp238-9; Blvd Marina near
n Jos
Paseo Sa
na
C
rde
69
82
Puerto Paraso Mall
Post office (Map pp238-9; Crdenas near 16 de Septiembre)
Mo
66
Telephone & Fax
63
os
rel
76
ec
49
M
al
4
77
Plaza
Armburo
46
17
dM
Blv
32
35
Hotel Tesoro) Changes cash and travelers checks; poorer

rates than banks.
Post
79
43
US dollars are widely accepted at stores,

restaurants and hotels, but you usually spend
less paying in pesos.
Banamex (Map p236; Crdenas & Paseo de la Marina)
Banca Serfin (Map pp238-9; Plaza Armburo, Crdenas
Banco Santander (Map pp238-9; cnr Crdenas & Av
53
83
81
47
Money
near Zaragoza)
54
40
Los Cabos News Bilingual biweekly covering general and

tourism-related news in the Los Cabos area.
Plaza Bonita
Telmex/Ladatel pay phones are located on

nearly every street corner in Cabo. Telephone
calls from the Corner internet caf cost
US$0.40/0.70 to the US/Europe.
na
ari
Tourist Information
67
52
74
Oc
72
am
Marina
Cabo San Lucas
po
44
M
Blvd
65
Plaza del Sol

56
Travel Agencies
Los Delfines (Map pp238-9; %143-1396, 143-3096;
53
80
cnr Leona Vicario & Revolucin, Plaza Los Arcos, Local 1)

Well-established travel agency with an English-speaking
staff.
10
Plaza Nutica
45
d M
ari
na
Ma
Blv
DANGERS & ANNOYANCES
lec
42
60
5
n
34
Marina
Cabo San Lucas
58
31
Hotel Tesoro
36
(former Plaza
13
Las Glorias)
71
11
20
14
Sportfishing Docks
61
Public
Parking
Lots
18
16
19
A major annoyance is the gauntlet of timeshare salespeople lined up along Blvd Marina
like buzzards on a fence. They will try to entice
you with free meals, drinks or rounds of golf
if you attend a short tour and presentation,
which usually ends up taking up half your
vacation day. Do your best to ignore them.
If youre not used to Mexican resort beaches,
the many wandering beach vendors often
poor immigrants from mainland Mexico can
be abrasive. Dressed in their city-mandated
white outfits, they are especially prevalent
LOS CABOS
arina
15
Cabo San Lucas only official tourist office

is the state-run Secretaria de Turismo de Baja
California Sur (Map pp238-9; %105-1666; turismo
_loscabos@prodigy.net.mx; Drsena, Suite 2-B), near the
sportfishing and boat tours docks. Unfortunately, its of little help. Signs around town
that announce Tourist Information are
usually time-share booths. Your best bet for
information is the staff at your hotel.
240 C A B O S A N LU C A S S i g h t s
along Playa Mdano but also work more

remote Corridor beaches such as Playa Chileno
and Playa Santa Mara. A simple no gracias
(no thank you) will usually send them on their
way, but it can get to you after the 30th time.
However, if you are inclined to buy something,
youll probably pay less than in stores. After
showing you their wares, the younger men
often close the conversation with offers for
illicit goods and services.
SIGHTS
Built into the solitary hill in downtown Cabo
San Lucas, the Casa de la Cultura (Map pp238-9;
entrance on Nios Hroes) is home to a theater, a
small park and a mirador (lookout point). The
mirador is surrounded by landscaped gardens
and offers a view of all of Cabo. It is a peaceful
retreat from the craziness of downtown.
LOS CABOS

Part yacht harbor, part party and part Lifestyles
of the Rich & Famous, Cabos multimilliondollar, 380-slip marina is backed by the towns
priciest shopping malls, restaurants and
bars. The malecn (waterfront promenade)
zigzags from the sportfishing docks at the
marinas southern end, up to the Puerto Paraso
Mall (Map pp2389), hooks back around and
dead ends near the sand at Playa Mdano.
On a busy day, it offers people-watching at
its finest, as sportfishing operators, sun-burnt
expats, dusty off-road freaks, drunk college
kids, gaudily dressed vacationers, real estate
agents and the occasional movie star sit, sip
and stroll under the Cabo sun. Ooh-ing and
ah-ing at the luxury yachts and sailboats is a
prime activity.
Playa Mdano
Cabo San Lucas has three main beaches. The
most popular is Playa Mdano (Dune Beach;
Map p236), which runs northeast for about
3km (2 miles) from the Hacienda Beach Resort (under renovation). The water is crystal
clear and calm, making it ideal for swimming (or, as the case may be, wading with a
margarita glass in hand). Buoyed swimming
areas keep the jet skis, parasailers and fishing
pangas away from the swimmers (at least
in theory), and cruise ships float offshore.
With several bars placed right on the beach,
its a great place to chill out, pound your
favorite cocktails and basically feel merry
in the sun.
lonelyplanet.com
Lands End
After stretching 1240km (775 miles) from the
California border, the peninsula comes to a
dramatic end at El Arco (Map p236), a natural
granite archway with the Sea of Cortez on one
side and the Pacific on the other. Immediately
offshore stand Los Frailes (Monks), two granite
pinnacles that offer some very unique rock
climbing, should you feel inclined (in fact,
a scene from the movie Everest was filmed
here). Just off the eastern shore, the thin spire
of Neptunes Finger protrudes some 24m (80ft)
out of the water.
Lands End is also home to Bajas most
famous beach, Playa del Amor (Lovers Beach),
which has sands on both the Pacific Ocean
and the bay side. Hurricanes have eroded
the bay side of the beach significantly but
the Pacific side still has plenty of sand. The
Pacific side is unsafe for swimming, however,
and is jokingly referred to as Divorce Beach.
From Playa del Amor, its possible to swim
(or walk at low tide) to Roca Pelicano (Pelican
Rock), named for the many pelicans that
roost upon it.
Lands End is equally spectacular below the
water. A vast underwater canyon begins below
the surface and descends steeply for hundreds
of feet. After leveling off to a gentler grade, it
drops slowly to a depth of 1800m (6000ft).
Granite walls up to 900m (3000ft) high tower
over the bottom of the canyon. If youd rather
stick closer to the surface, youll find excellent
snorkeling off Playa del Amor. The diving at
all levels is superb.
Lands End and Playa del Amor are separated from Cabo San Lucas by a Class 3
scramble over the rocks behind Hotel Solmar
(not recommended). The best way out is by
water taxi from Playa Mdano or the Hotel
Tesoro docks. They charge anywhere from
US$7 to US$12 depending on who you ask
and how many people are in your group
(hang on to your ticket for a return trip).
Some days the waves are too rough for the
taxis to land, in which case youll have to hit
a different beach.
Playa Solmar
Playa Solmar (Map p236), on the Pacific side
of the point, is quieter and well suited for sunbathing, but has a reputation for unpredictable breakers that drown several unsuspecting
tourists every year. Its accessible via the road
to Hotel Solmar.
lonelyplanet.com
Around Cabo San Lucas

About 5km (3 miles) northwest of town is
Cabo San Lucas historic lighthouse, Faro Viejo
(Map p231), perched high above Cabo Falso
(False Cape; Map p231), so named because
it was once erroneously thought to be the
southernmost point on the Baja Peninsula.
Surrounded by a spectacular dunescape (unfortunately frequented by ATVs), the lighthouse was in operation from 1895 to 1961,
when it was replaced by a candy-striped
cousin on a hillside above. The latter is worth
a visit for extraordinary 360-degree views of
the ocean, city and sierras.
If youre traveling by car or mountain bike,
follow Mxico 19 for about 4km (2.5 miles;
starting from the Pemex station), and then
turn left about 800m (0.5 miles) past the Km
120 sign onto a dirt road just in front of the
Coca-Cola distributorship.
Day trips to San Jos (p218) and up the
Eastern Cape Rd (p204) to Cabo Pulmo
(p207) both make excellent excursions from
Cabo San Lucas. You could also drive up to
the historic town of Todos Santos (p210) and
do a little gallery hopping.
ACTIVITIES
Surfing
Theres great surf along the Corridor and up

the Eastern Cape Rd. For more information,
see p232. Theres also excellent surfing around
Todos Santos (p212).
Fishing
Prices depend entirely on the size and type

of boat, and the reputation of the operator
and skipper. Figure on spending, at minimum, US$75 per person for a good charter,
all included. Boats start around US$175 for
a three-person panga. Boats 31ft to 35ft run
anywhere from US$500 to US$850 and can
accommodate up to six people. Prices can go
as high as US$2800 for a yacht-sportfisher for
six people. It all depends on how many bells
and whistles you want.
If you need to obtain your own fishing license (its usually provided for you by the charter), you can do so at the Oficina de Pesca (Map p236;
h8:30am-2pm Mon-Fri), by the cruise-ship docks.
Minervas Baja Tackle (Map pp238-9; %143-1282;
www.minervas.com; minerv@allaboutcabo.com; cnr Madero &
Blvd Marina) is Cabos most highly regarded tackle
shop. Serious anglers swear by the quality and

selection, and give high marks to the friendliness and know-how of the staff. Minerva is a
real character who also operates her own fishing fleet. Contact the store to set up a boat.
Other operators with very professional
crews and captains and good reputations include the following:
Dream Maker (Map pp238-9; %143-7266; www
.dreammakercharter.com; Hotel Tesoro, Local F-10)

Picante Bluewater Sportfishing (Map pp238-9;
%143-2474, in the USA 714-572-6693; www
.picantesportfishing.com; Puerto Paraso 39-A) Located in
Puerto Paraso Mall, facing the water.
Pisces Sportfishing Fleet (Map pp238-9; %1431288; www.piscessportfishing.com) By the sportfishing
docks adjacent to the Hotel Tesoro.
Solmar Sportfishing Fleet (Map p236; %143-0646,
in the USA 800-344-3349; www.solmar.com) At the Hotel
Solmar (p246).
The following list indicates the prime months

for the various fish species, but most species
actually inhabit Cabos waters year-round.
Blue marlin July to October
Dorado July to November
Roosterfish July to December
Sailfish August to October
Shark January to May
Striped marlin November to June
Tuna June to October
Wahoo August and September
To have your catch vacuum-packed and
frozen or smoked, make sure its been kept
on ice and take it to Griceldas Smokehouse (Map
pp238-9; %122-4375), inside Dream Maker.
LOS CABOS
No doubt about it, the Cape Region is one of

the worlds best places for big-game sportfishing. With more marlin caught off the cape
than anywhere on the planet, Cabos title of
Marlin Capital of the World is well deserved.
Fishing is best during hurricane season (July
to early October), when rougher seas bring
out the marine life.
Competition among the nearly 30 sportfishing charters is fierce, but quality varies.
Always ask whats included in a boat charter.
Most rates for eight-hour trips include fishing licenses and permits, tackle, crew and ice.
Sometimes they also include beer and soda,
cleaning and freezing, and tax. Live bait is
usually available at the docks, but good charters will take care of that for you. Boats usually leave between 6am and 7am and return
between 3pm and 4pm. See p50 for a general
discussion of sportfishing.
C A B O S A N LU C A S A c t i v i t i e s 241
242 C A B O S A N LU C A S A c t i v i t i e s
lonelyplanet.com
CATCH & RELEASE

More than 40,000 marlin are caught annually off Los Cabos alone, but most of them are returned
to the ocean to fight another day. Although each boat is legally allowed to kill one billfish
(marlin, swordfish or sailfish) per daily outing, most anglers follow the advice of the Sportfishing
Association of Los Cabos and opt to catch and release. We highly recommend you do the same.
Billfish releases are reported to the Billfish Foundation, which will send the proud angler a Release
Certificate. Fish need not be killed in order to be taxidermied. Experts can make replica mounts
from photographs taken of the fish.
Unless done correctly, fish can be so seriously injured in the release process that they die
anyway after being returned to the sea. Avoid treble or stainless steel hooks; instead use longshank, unplated iron hooks that can be more easily removed. Dragging a fish overboard and
holding it in an upright position can lead to internal damage. Try to remove the hook with
the fish still in the water. If possible, avoid touching the animal, as this can damage the skin,
subjecting it to bacterial infections. If a fishs gills are damaged, or it is already bleeding, it will
likely succumb to its injuries.
LOS CABOS
Diving & Snorkeling

Underwater explorations around Los Cabos
may yield encounters with manta rays, sea
lions, turtles, hammerhead sharks, marlin and
an entire aquariums worth of colorful tropical
fish. Best of all, some of the finest diving sites
are just a five-minute boat ride away from
the marina.
At Lands End, Roca Pelicano (7.5m to 24m,
25ft to 80ft) is perfect for beginners and has
lots of tropical and schooling fish, while sites
near Los Frailes (15m to 18m, 50ft to 60ft) give
intermediate to advanced divers a chance to
frolic with sea lions. Even more experienced
types wont want to miss the Sand Falls (9m to
30.5m, 30ft to 100ft), where steep sand banks
plunge into a submarine canyon just 27m
(30 yards) offshore. (Jacques Cousteau made
a documentary on this spectacular place.)
Another challenge is Neptunes Finger (24m to
30.5m, 80ft to 100ft), an amazing canyon-wall
dive. Snorkelers can hit the water right off
Playa del Amor (on the bay side only).
Dive shops cluster near the Hotel Tesoro
docks. Snorkeling tours (gear included) cost
about US$25 in the bay or US$35 if you head
out to Baha Chileno; one-tank dives cost
US$45; two-tank dives cost US$65 to US$75;
one-tank night dives go for US$45 to US$50.
Introductory (resort or Discover Scuba)
courses cost US$80 to US$100. Open Water
certification costs around US$400 and full
PADI Dive Master certification costs about
US$600.
Rates usually include tanks and weights.
Regulators, buoyancy compensator jackets
and full wetsuits rent for about US$10 each;
air-fills and weight belts cost about US$5 each.

Mask, fins and snorkel cost US$10 to US$12.
Some places rent underwater cameras for
about US$25.
Most operators also organize tours to
sites further afield, including all-day trips
(about US$130) to Cabo Pulmo (p207) or
Gorda Banks (p229). These usually require
a minimum of four people. Most companies
mentioned under Cruises (opposite) also run
snorkeling trips in the mornings.
Reputable dive outfitters, all of which
have English-speaking staff, include the
following:
Amigos del Mar (Map p236; %143-0505, in the USA
800-344-3349; www.amigosdelmar.com) Near the cruiseship dock, south of Blvd Marina off Av Solmar. PADI. Long
in the business.
Andromeda Divers (Map p236; %143-2765; www
.scubadivecabo.com; Playa Mdano at Billigans) All PADI
courses available.
Lands End Divers (Map pp238-9; %143-2200; www
.mexonline.com/landsend.htm; Hotel Tesoro, Local A-5) All
courses, tours available. Hotel pickup throughout Los Cabos.
Neptune Divers (Map pp238-9; %143-7111; Hotel
Tesoro)
Tio Sports (Map p236; %143-3399; www.tiosports
.com; Playa Mdano at Hotel Meli San Lucas)
Underwater Diversions (Map pp238-9; %143-4004;
www.divecabo.com; Hotel Tesoro, Local F5-7)
Golf
With its six signature championship golf
courses along the Los Cabos Corridor, Cabo
San Lucas has become one of the worlds premier golfing destinations. The courses are
described in the Corridor section (above).
lonelyplanet.com
C A B O S A N LU C A S C a b o S a n Lu c a s f o r C h i l d re n 243
Horseback Riding
Rancho Collins (Map p236; % 143-3652), based
directly across the road from the Club
Cascadas de Baja complex, offers a variety of
well-received horseback rides and has been
in the horse business for years. Rides include
a one-hour beach ride (US$30 per person),
a two-hour beach-and-desert ride (US$60
per person) and a four-hour mountain tour
(US$80 per person). For operators in the
Corridor, see p232.
to 14. Children old enough to swim, snorkel

and participate in activities such as horseback
riding (left) will be easily entertained for hours.
The pirate cruise (p244) aboard the Sunderland
is always a hit with the young ns.
TOURS
All sorts of boat tours are offered in Cabo.
Your hotel will likely be able to set you up
with something if you dont feel like dealing
directly with the operators.
Water Sports
Glass-Bottom Boat Tours
For water sports and general goofing off,

head to Playa Mdano, where youll find
rentals for just about every sort of beach
activity and water sport imaginable. Parasailing flights cost about US$30 and jet skis/
Waverunners rent for about US$35 to US$45
per half hour or US$60 to US$80 per hour. Tio
Sports (opposite) rents quality Waverunners
at the higher-cost end.
There are also plenty of opportunities to
hire a speedboat to drag you and your friends
across the bay on a banana boat. At US$10 per
person theyre cheaper than Waverunners.
Further down the beach, Juanchos (Map p236;
%144-4252; Playa Mdano) pledges an airgasmic
experience with its parasailing operation, and
the sign promises 10% off for women who
sail naked. Sorry guys, no way out of the normal US$30 fee. Juanchos is near the Sandbar
(p250), in case you need more beer.
Located in the Hotel Tesoro complex, Cabo
Expeditions (Map pp238-9; %143-2700; www.cabo
expeditions.com.mx; Hotel Tesoro, Local F-9) offers 10minute parasailing flights (US$35), and a
variety of snorkeling tours incorporating
everything from Waverunners to underwater
propulsion devices.
Glass-bottom boat tours are offered by a

plethora of operators down at the marina and
along Playa Mdano and usually cost about
US$10 per person for 45 minutes. Drop-offs
and pickups at Playa del Amor (p240) can
usually be arranged at no extra charge. Most
tours depart from the sportfishing & boat tours
docks (Map pp2389) at the south end of the
marina.
LOS CABOS
CABO SAN LUCAS FOR CHILDREN

Most of Los Cabos top-end hotels primarily
those on Playa Mdano, along the Corridor
and on the beach in San Jos offer all-day
daycare services and supervised activities that
allow you bigger kids to make off and play
on your own for a while. The water is calm at
Playa Mdano and buoyed swimming areas will
keep the kids from floating too far off.
Many dive boats allow children under 12
to ride along for free or for a minimal charge.
Even better get them diving on their own.
Underwater Diversions (opposite) offers a
PADI Jr Open Water Diver course for kids age 10
Sunset & Snorkeling Cruises

Capping off a day at the beach with a sunset
cruise is a popular pastime. Theyre a great
way to suck down all the free booze you want
(hence their other name: booze cruise), meet
some strangers (ahem) and take in some fabulous views. Sunset cruises depart around 5pm
in winter and 6pm in summer, and are usually segregated into romantic cruises or the
aforementioned booze cruises. Daytime snorkeling trips are a little mellower, departing
between 10am and noon, and head to Baha
Santa Mara (p230) for the dip.
Trips last two to three hours, and prices
almost always include drinks and snacks;
snorkeling trips include lunch. Most boats
depart from the docks near Hotel Tesoro, and
children under age 13 usually pay half-price
or less.
The 42ft catamarans Pez Gato I and Pez
Gato II (Map pp238-9; %143-3797; www.pezgatocabo
.com; Marina Cabo San Lucas, Drsena 4; hMon-Sat) offer
booze cruises at sunset (US$35); snorkeling
cruises to Baha Santa Mara (US$45); and an
11:30am Gold Coast Tour that visits Playa
del Amor and the sea-lion colony off Lands
End. All include open bars. Children under
12 go free.
The 36ft trimaran Jungle Cruise (Map pp238-9;
%143-7530; www.cabobooze-cruise.com) departs daily
at 10:30am for snorkel cruises on Baha Santa
Mara and nightly at 5pm (6pm in summer)
244 C A B O S A N LU C A S Fe s t i v a l s & E v e n t s
for its notoriously wild sunset booze cruises.

Its office is inside the Hotel Tesoro (Map
pp2389). The much tamer Encore, a 60ft racing yacht with capacity for 25 people, charges
US$39 for a snorkeling cruise and US$29 for
the sunset cruise with open bar; contact JT
Watersports (Map p236; %144-4566; www.jtwatersports
.com; Playa Mdano) on Playa Mdano.
Pirate Cruises
For something a little different, take a pirate
cruise aboard the Sunderland (%143-2714; www
.pirateshipcabo.com), a beautiful 19th-century
four-masted tall ship that lets you glide into
the sunset without noisy engine sounds. The
crew dresses in pirates garb, and the captain
himself will shower you with tales of Cabos
sordid corsair past. The cost is US$40,
or US$20 for kids under 12. Contact the
Sunderlands office by telephone.
The 96ft Buccaneer Queen (%105-9293, 144-4217)
is a splendid three-masted tall ship offering
whale-watching and sunset cruises as well as its
Treasure Hunt cruise which includes a visit to
Lands End and the sea-lion colony, snorkeling
at Baha Chileno, games and an open bar. The
sunset cruise incorporates swashbuckling
pirate performances into the spectacle of
Cabos sunset. Reserve by telephone.
LOS CABOS
Whale-Watching Cruises
During the peak of the gray whale migration,
from January to March, you can easily spot
whales right from the shore. You can get even
closer by jumping aboard a whale-watching
cruise. Many of the cruise ships listed earlier,
as well as Cabo Expeditions (p243) and JT
Watersports (above) also run whale-watching
trips. They cost between US$35 and US$45
and usually last three hours.
FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Cabo San Lucas has several popular annual
events, including many fishing tournaments.
The most prestigious is the Bisbees Black
& Blue Marlin Jackpot Tournament, held in
late October. A week before is the Gold Cup
Sportfishing Tournament, and late November
sees the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament. The
Festival San Lucas, which celebrates the towns
patron saint, kicks off on October 18 or 19.
SLEEPING
Cabo San Lucas plethora of accommodations
include the resorts along Playa Mdano and
Playa Solmar and plenty of small, independently owned hotels and B&B-type places in
the center of town.
No hotel in Cabo San Lucas is cheap
enough to be considered budget; this is
about the priciest place to stay on the peninsula. Campgrounds and RV parks are just
east of town.
Unlike the Mexican resorts of Cancn
and Mazatln, Cabo San Lucas lacks any real
gay scene, and there are no specifically gay
hotels. But most luxury hotels are so large
and anonymous and the smaller hotels
friendly enough that sexuality is generally
a nonissue.
For a general discussion of where to sleep
in Cabo, see p219.
Downtown
MIDRANGE
Hotel Olas (Map p236; %143-1780; hotelolas_csl@hotmail

.com; Revolucin near Faras; r US$36; pa) The vibrantly orange, family-run Hotel Olas offers
spacious tile-floor rooms with comfy king-size
beds (on cement bases), cable TV and some
seriously strange art on the walls. The bathrooms could use a paint job, but for the price,
its excellent value. A small supermarket and
coin laundry are across the street.
Posada San Antonio (Map pp238-9; %143-7353; Morelos s/n; r US$38) Big rooms, low rates, no parking
and a US$10 deposit (to keep you from getting too wild) make this modest hotel popular
among guests with varied interests. Fine for a
night or two if youre on the cheap.
Hotel Dos Mares (Map pp238-9; %143-0330, 1433870; hoteldosmares@yahoo.com.mx; Zapata btwn Guerrero
& Hidalgo; r US$40 or US$57; as) Someone went
a little crazy with the architecture and the air

freshener. With plenty to bump your head
upon, it fits right in with those Mexican buildings that grow as the money rolls in. The bathrooms and the rooms are a bit claustrophobic,
but you can escape both by diving into the
tiny swimming pool in the middle of the big
outdoor patio.
Hotel Los Arcos (Map pp238-9; % 143-0702;
sanliz902@hotmail.com; cnr Leona Vicario & Revolucin; r

US$43; pa) Sparkling Hotel Los Arcos is a
great deal as long as it stays in its perfectly new

condition. Rooms are spacious and sheets are
stark white and stretched perfectly across new
mattresses beneath green bead spreads. Its a
modern place without character, but youll
definitely be comfortable.
C A B O S A N LU C A S S l e e p i n g 245
ESCAPE YOUR RESORT

When the canned poolside entertainment at your all-inclusive resort starts to drive you crazy,
rent a car and get out of town. The following destinations, mostly covered in the Southern Baja
chapter, make excellent day trips.
Eastern Cape Rd Bounce up one of Bajas most beautiful stretches of coast and spend the
afternoon lounging on the best beach you find (p229).

Todos Santos Head up the western cape and wander around this historic town with loads of
international art galleries (p210).

Baha Santa Mara Spend a day snorkeling and sunning at this beautiful Corridor bay (p230).
Santiago Drive up the Transpeninsular to Santiago and hike out to the nearby waterfall or
hot springs (p202).

Cabo Pulmo Get up early and drive up the Eastern Cape Rd to snorkel in this magical coral
reef (p207).
Hotel Mlida (Map pp238-9; %143-6564; cnr Matamoros

& Nios Hroes; s/d US$35/45; a) The dozen or so
.caboinnhotel.com; cnr 20 de Noviembre & Leona Vicario; s

US$44-49, d US$65, r for 6 US$134, HI member US$25; a)
Perhaps the best value in town, the Cabo Inn

is quiet and has the character of a big, old
Mexican house. Its courtyard bursts with foliage, and Mexican tapestries adorn the walls.
There are plenty of tables outside the rooms
and a barbecue grill to cook your days catch.
Bathrooms are a bit small, but the charm more
than makes up for this.
Siesta Suites Hotel (Map pp238-9; %143-2773, in the
USA 866-271-0952; www.cabosiestasuites.com; Zapata near
Guerrero; r US$62; as) If youre bent on self-
catering, try two-story Siesta Suites, whose

clean rooms all have fully equipped kitchenettes. Palm trees outside give it a tropical feel,
and you can order drinks from the attached
bar to sip at the tiny pool. The scene can vary
USA 800-347-8821; www.mardecortez.com; Crdenas near Guerrero; r US$62-68, ste US$82; as) This Cabo faithful
is the towns oldest hotel, though youd never

know it sleeping in one of the plush rooms in
the newer wing. All are sparse but spotless, with
tiled floors and, depending on what you pay, a
terrace or garden view. The cheapest rooms are
in the older sector. Theres a good, affordable
restaurant attached (great breakfasts), and the
staff is particularly adept at setting up fishing
and scuba tours. No TVs or telephones.
Las Margaritas Inn (Map pp238-9; %143-6770;
margaritas@hotmail.com; Plaza Armburo; s/d US$60/70;

pa) En-suite kitchens and giant rooms
are the main attractions here. Atmosphere?

Not a lick. Its a modernish, three-story, moteltype place facing a big parking lot on a busy
street. Its big rooms and location in the heart
of Cabos nightlife strip definitely notches it
up in appeal, however, especially if youre here
to party.
Hotel Santa Fe (Map pp238-9; %143-4401; www.hotel
santafeloscabos.com, www.villagroup.com; cnr Zaragoza &

Obregn; r US$89; pas) The 46 spacious and
immaculate studios at this four-floor hotel have

satellite TV, kitchenettes, air-con, telephones
and sofa beds (plus the main bed, of course).
The decor is a bit Home Depot-ish, with prefab
cupboards and cabinets, but its brightened
up with yellow paint and colorful art and bedspreads. Most have sliding doors that open
onto the pool area. A small market, caf and
coin laundry are adjacent to the hotel.
LOS CABOS
rooms at this 16-room, family-run property

are spacious and spotless and have TVs. The
downside is that some rooms have sliding
doors that open onto a cement wall near the
street, meaning theyre a bit noisy. Basically,
they all have a bed and a bathroom and thats
about it. Its bare bones, but fine.
Hotel El Dorado (Map pp238-9; %143-2810; Morelos
btwn Carranza & Obrgon; r US$45; pas) The 36
large, clean but totally simple rooms here
wrap motel-like around a central parking area.
All have TVs and plenty of room to spread
out. Character is nil, but its very friendly.
The pool is big enough for about three people
(four, if you count the adjacent kiddy pool),
but its clean and cool.
oCabo Inn (Map pp238-9; %143-0819; www
between chaotic and relaxing, depending on

how many people are around. Its smack in
the middle of Cabo nightlife.
Hotel Mar de Cortez (Map pp238-9; %143-0032, in the
246 C A B O S A N LU C A S S l e e p i n g
TOP END
Hotel Los Milagros (Map pp238-9; %143-4566, in
the USA 718-928-6647; www.losmilagros.com.mx; Matamoros 116; r US$75-115; as) This US-owned
boutique hotel is an oasis of good taste and

style. Rooms feature scalloped brick ceilings
and Mexican manor-style furniture. All have
air-con but lack phones or TVs to emphasize the desert-retreat atmosphere. Some have
kitchenettes. Ambient music spills softly over
the cactus- and bougainvillea-filled patio, and
the miniature, tiled pool nails the point home
that youre here to relax. Trivia: Boy George
stayed here.
Casa Bella (Map pp238-9; % 143-6400;
hotelboutiquecb@yahoo.com; Hidalgo near Crdenas; r US$145165, ste US$185; hOct-Jul; pas) Although
the classically styled rooms at this elegant

boutique hotel have low ceilings and no windows, theyre undeniably comfortable. The
real highlight, however, is the garden: palms,
bougainvillea, roses and fig trees shade a lovely
little swimming pool and white wrought-iron
patio furniture. No TVs or telephones in the
rooms, however. Rates include a continental
breakfast.
Bungalows Breakfast Inn (Map pp238-9; %143-
LOS CABOS
5035, in the USA 800-424-2226; www.cabobungalows

.com; near cnr Libertad & Herrera; r US$152-175, bungalow
US$186-209, ste US$198; pnas) Inside cen-
tral Cabos most secluded hideaway, a palmfringed pool gives way to 16 light-flooded
studios and two-bedroom bungalows with
Mexican furnishings, fridges and beds you
simply melt into. Everything has been decorated with love, including the private patios,
which make venturing outside the hotel difficult. The gourmet breakfasts garner rave
reviews. The hotel is just off Calle Libertad
(follow the signs from Constitucin).
Hotel Tesoro (Map pp238-9; %173-9300, ext 1450/51;
www.tesororesorts.com; r US$166-235; pais)
Formerly the Plaza Las Glorias, Hotel Tesoro

is a giant, sprawling deluxe hotel facing the
Marina. Its not the beach, but the location is
fabulous you just have to deal with all the
foot traffic in and around the lobby. Rooms
are excellent, and the adjacent bars and restaurants are some of Cabos best. If you plan
to fish, its incredibly convenient.
Playa Mdano & Playa Solmar

Cabo San Lucas luxury resorts line the beachfronts of both the bay side (Playa Mdano)
and the Pacific side (Playa Solmar). Facilities
at each are similar and include beautiful

swimming pools, Jacuzzis, tennis courts, restaurants, bars and all other amenities that
come with luxury resorts. Prices for the following hotels fluctuate wildly.
Hotel Finisterra (Map p236; %143-3333, in the USA
800-347-2252; www.finisterra.com; Av Solmar; r US$190332, ste US$325-500; pnais) On Playa
Solmar, just off Blvd Marina, the Finisterra

commands an impressive clifftop location.
Some rooms have fireplaces, while others
have either ocean or marina views. Its Whale
Watcher Bar (p250) is a splendid spot for a
drink with a view.
Hotel Solmar Suites (Map p236; %143-3535, in the
USA 800-344-3349; www.solmar.com; r from US$195, ste from
US$289; pnais) East of the Finisterra
on Playa Solmar, this secluded beachfront

resort boasts ocean-view studios, suites and
condos. Its still a biggie, but its smaller than
many of the Playa Mdano hotels, which gives
it a more romantic feel. Hotel Solmar is also
famous for its sportfishing fleet (see p241),
making it an excellent choice if you are planning to fish.
Hotel Meli San Lucas (Map p236; %143-4444, in
the USA 800-336-3542; www.meliasanlucas.solmelia.com;
r US$284-622, ste US$470-2100; pnas) With
its stylish new image, Playa Mdanos Meli

San Lucas is easily the hippest resort in Cabo
San Lucas. Rather than plastic chaise lounges,
guests relax on canvas sun-futons or in chic
semiprivate palapas shrouded in fabrics.
Meanwhile, DJs spin house and ambient
grooves over the pool area, making everyone
feel like stars. The swim-up bar is fabulous.
Miamis sex-addled Nikki Beach operates on
the premises, meaning everyones libido is
kept well charged. Basically, if you want a
resort without classic rock and clich Mexican
entertainment, this is a great option.
Pueblo Bonito Ros Resort (Map p236; %143-5500,
in the USA 800-990-8250; www.pueblobonito.com; r from
US$300; pnais) The Pueblo Bonitos
(next) adjacent sister property is slightly more

sophisticated with its Greek statues and imposing columns around the pool area. The
hotel itself is even bigger than Pueblo Bonito
and boasts a state-of-the-art spa. Perk: its on
Playa Mdano.
Pueblo Bonito Resort (Map p236; %143-2900,
in the USA 800-990-8250; www.pueblobonito.com; r from

US$320; pnais) The Pueblo Bonitos
mega-proportions are mitigated by Moorishstyle blue-tiled domes. The opulent lobby is
lonelyplanet.com
another eye-catcher. Rooms, of course, have

all the usual perks. The luxury suites are definitely bigger than the junior suites, but the
latter are just as good, considering youll be
spending most of your time outside. Executive, presidential and penthouse suites kick
the price tag much higher. The location on
Playa Mdano is excellent.
Camping
Cabo San Lucas has only one campground/RV
park in town. The rest are east of town along
the Corridor.
Faro Viejo Trailer Park (Map p236; %143-4211;
Morales btwn Matamoros & Abasolo; site US$15-20) Cabo
San Lucas only in-town campground, Faro
Viejo has full hookups, sites for tents and
clean bathrooms.
Club Cabo Motel & Camp Resort (Map p231; %1433348; sites per person US$15, cabaa US$70; s) After
Faro Viejo, this Dutch-operated RV park is
the closest to town. Its also the most congenial and has dependable services and stylish
thatched-roof cabaas. The grounds, which lie
adjacent to a migratory bird refuge, are quiet,
well maintained and feature a large swimming
pool, Jacuzzi and barbecue area. Its a bit hidden but well signposted once you turn toward
the beach at the intersection of the Transpeninsular and the Cabo bypass road. The resort
is 1.6km (1 mile) east of Club Cascadas de
Baja (Map p236), just before the Villas de
Palmar development.
EATING
Mexican
Calle Leona Vicario has been dubbed Taco
Alley for good reason. The street is lined with
taqueras offering good, cheap, authentic food
(mostly tacos, of course) all day, all night.
Los Paisas (Map pp238-9; cnr Leona Vicario & Revolucin;
tacos US$1.25; h6pm-6am) Renowned for its beef
tacos and stuffed potatoes (both always served
with a plate of grilled onions and a couple of
greasy short ribs), Los Paisas is the spot for

the late-night munchies.
Cabo Taco (Map p236; cnr Leona Vicario 5 de Febrero;
tacos US$1-2.50) Cabo Taco whips out delicious
seafood tacos and usually has some bizarre
things on the menu (like manta ray tacos).
El Oasis (Map pp238-9; %143-8314; cnr Blvd Marina
& Cabo San Lucas; sandwiches US$3.50, set lunch US$4)
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, big sandwiches

and a hearty comida corrida (set lunch; US$4)
make this clean, family-style joint the perfect
alternative to the high-priced eateries flooding Cabo.
El Michoacano (Map p236; %108-0713; cnr Leona
Vicario & Obregn; meal US$5 h8am-6pm) This openair branch of the renowned carnitas (slowroasted pork) chain serves up some of the best
cheap eats in Cabo which is why locals flock
here, especially on weekends. Three people
can fill up on a half-kilo of carnitas (unless
youre famished). Orders are accompanied by
chips, tortillas, chicharrones (pork cracklings),
beans and salsa.
oHuarachazo (Map p236; %143-8980; cnr
Leona Vicario & Alikan; mains US$4.50-7; h8am-10m MonSat) Also known as the Burro Loco (Crazy
Donkey), Huarachazo keeps its long menu

of Mexican specialties authentic and fairly
priced, and the place remains more popular
with locals than with tourists. Try the enchiladas de pollo en mole (chicken enchiladas
with mole sauce). Theres also all-you-can-eat
birria de res (a type of beef stew) and menudo
(a traditional tripe and hominy soup). Its a
very down-home place.
El Pollo de Oro (Map pp238-9; cnr Morelos & 20 de
Noviembre; breakfast US$3-4, mains US$5-7; h7:30am10:30pm Fri-Wed) Scrumptious grilled chicken and
delicious oven-cooked pork ribs are only part

of the story. The rest: great prices. A quarter
roast chicken goes for US$3, as do the huge
breakfast plates of chilequiles (a traditional
tortilla chip and chili-sauce dish) or huevos
rancheros (ranch-style eggs). Patio seating;
always busy.
Restaurant Doa Lolita (Map pp238-9; cnr Nios
Hroes & Matamoros; mains US$4-9; hlunch & dinner)
This small eatery serves delicious homestyle Mexican fare from an outdoor kitchen
of wood-burning stoves and black iron pots.
The daily changing menu usually features four
main dishes and a soup.
Solomons Landing (Map pp238-9; %143-3090, 1433050; Blvd Marina s/n, Hotel Tesora, Local 19 & 20; mains US$820) When you just want a good ol Cabo-style
LOS CABOS
Cabos culinary side includes everything

from taco stands to seafood restaurants to
ultraswanky French, Italian and of course
Mexican restaurants. Prices can be high, but,
generally, so is the quality. Most places are
casual and feature outdoor seating. Many
of the higher end restaurants use organic
produce grown on farms in and around
Miraflores (north of San Jos) and El Pescadero, near Todos Santos.
C A B O S A N LU C A S E a t i n g 247
248 C A B O S A N LU C A S E a t i n g
Mexican meal without all the hoopla of fine

dining, head down to the marina and hit Solomons Landing. Its been here for ages, and the
prices are still fair (relatively, anyway): sandwiches US$8, Mexican dishes US$8 to US$10
and pastas US$12 to US$20. Fun place.
O Mole Mo (Map pp238-9; %143-7577; cnr Blvd Marina
& Madero, Plaza del Sol; mains US$10-20; h8am-11pm)
With wrought-iron furniture, Mayan fertility figures adorning the walls and colorful
lanterns for light, the decor is as creative as
the food. Even standards like enchiladas and
tamales are presented with a whole new twist.
The seafood is outstanding. Lobster (US$30)
is the priciest thing on the menu.
Baja Cantina (Map pp238-9; %143-1591; www
.bajacantina.net; Plaza Las Glorias/Hotel Tesoro, Local H-1;

mains US$12-19; h7am-11pm) This is Cabo at its
un-swanky best: outdoor seating over the marina, anglers downing margaritas over chips
and salsa, great service, huge plates of tasty
(though slightly Americanized) Mexican food,
stiff drinks and relatively reasonable prices.
No fluff here. Good breakfasts.
Mi Casa (Map pp238-9; %143-1933; www.micasa
LOS CABOS
restaurant.com; Av Cabo San Lucas btwn Madero & Crdenas;

mains US$12-20) In a flower-festooned patio across
from Parque Amelia Wilkes, Mi Casa serves

excellent dishes from around Mexico, complete with warm tortillas made freshly on the
premises. Dishes range from jumbo shrimp
with tamarind sauce or pulpo al ajillo (baby
octopus sauted in garlic and butter) to chile
en nogada, a Puebla specialty of poblano chilies
stuffed with meat and smothered in a walnut
cream sauce. You cant go wrong here.
Margaritavilla (Map pp238-9; %143-0010; www
.margaritavillacabo.com; cnr Malecn & Blvd Marina, Plaza
Bonita; mains US$17-30) Famous for its gargantuan
margaritas (US$9), roaming mariachis and

hearty appetizers, Margaritavilla is an upscale
Mexican restaurant catering to foreign palates.
Plates are huge (but a bit bland) and prices
are extortionate. Still, a marina-side table is a
great place to knock back a margarita.
Playa Mdano is home to a string of casual
restaurants where you eat with your toes dug
into the sand. All serve the usual antojitos
(Mexican snacks and light meals such as enchiladas and tamales), seafood and Mexican
combos at midrange prices and are open all
day. They include the following:
Billygans (Map p236; %143-0402; Playa Mdano)
Big plates of good food; sandwiches, burgers and seafood;
happy hour from 2pm to 7pm.
lonelyplanet.com
Mango Deck (Map p236; %143-0901; Playa Mdano)

Very casual place with rustic wood decor.
Office (Map p236; %143-3464; Playa Mdano) This
place is known for its raucous Mexican fiestas held several

times weekly.
Seafood
Seafood, of course, is a Cabo specialty, and
there are numerous restaurants where you
can get your fill.
El Pescador (Map pp238-9; cnr Zaragoza & Nios Hroes;
mains US$7-13) The menu at this modest and
friendly eatery is an oceanic treasure trove:
shrimp, fish, oysters, snails, crab, octopus
you name it, its served here. Its casual and
prices are good.
Mariscos Mazatln (Map pp238-9; %143-8565; cnr
Mendoza & 16 de Septiembre; mains US$7-18; h11am10pm) Local families fill the big dining room
here for the good prices and great seafood.

Sunday afternoons are especially busy (and
especially fun).
La Palapa The Gus (Map pp238-9; %143-0808; www.lapa
lapathegus.com; Nios Hroes near Zaragoza; mains US$11-17)
This longtime Cabo favorite draws big crowds

for its good-value seafood dinners. Breakfasts
are tasty, though prices have steepened just
enough to make it borderline in value.
Giggling Marlin (Map pp238-9; %143-1182; Blvd
Marina; mains US$9-24; h9am-1am) Seafood (as
much as partying) may be the specialty at
this restaurant-bar, but theres plenty more
on the menu. If youre not feeling fishy, try
the MOAB (Mother Of All Burgers) or one
of many Mexican standbys.
The Fish House (Map pp238-9; %144-4501; Blvd
Marina near Guerrero; mains US$12-24; h3-11pm) Although the airy dining room feels quite upscale, the prices are reasonable, especially
considering the quality of the fare. The menu
(which includes dishes from coconut shrimp
to calamari in guajillo chile sauce) is imaginative yet straightforward, and emphasis is
placed squarely on preparing good food.
Mariscos Mocambo (Map pp238-9; %143-2122; cnr
Leona Vicario & 20 de Noviembre; US$15-19) Touristy but
renowned for its large portions of fresh fish
and shellfish, Mariscos Mocambo is just the
place for casual atmosphere and reasonably
priced seafood. Its festive without pandering
to the bring-out-the-sombreros-and-tequila
crowd. Great.
Shrimp Factory (Map pp238-9; %143-5066; cnr Blvd
Marina & Guerrero; mains US$10-35) Casual and popular, the Shrimp Factory dishes out boiled or
C A B O S A N LU C A S E a t i n g 249
lonelyplanet.com
tomatoes and wild mushrooms, lamb shank

Ossobuco, or portabella mushroom filet in a
red-wine reduction. The wine bar is superb,
and Cuban art adorns the walls. Theres also
live jazz most nights. Reservations recommended after 7pm.
International
Other
Latitude 22+ Oceanview Roadhouse (Map p236;
Tutto Bene (Map pp238-9; %144-3300; cnr Blvd Marina

& Camino del Cerro) Great market for stocking up
on gourmet picnic goodies. It also has a huge
wine selection.
Armburo Supermarket (Map pp238-9; %143-1450;
Crdenas, Plaza Armburo) Large, centrally located
supermarket.
Cabo Coffee Co (Map pp238-9; %105-1130; cnr Hidalgo
& Madero; US$1-3; h6am-10pm) Organic Mexican
coffees are roasted on the premises, so the
coffee drinks rock. Great place to wake up to
a light snack and a caffeine kick.
Spencers (Map pp238-9; Crdenas near Guerrero; breakfasts US$2.50-7; h7am-9pm) Inside Hotel Mar de
Cortez (p245), this is one of the best breakfast values in town. US-style eggs and potato
plates cost just US$2.50. Plenty more is on the
menu, and its all good.
La Europea (Map pp238-9; %145-8760; Plaza Puerto
Paraso, Local 39-B; sandwiches & salads US$5-7) Big
wholesome baguette sandwiches and salads
make for healthy and affordable lunches, and
marina-front tables make for good peoplewatching. Excellent selection of tequilas and
Mexican wines.
Mams Royal Caf (Map pp238-9; Hidalgo near
Zapata; breakfast US$6-10; h7:30am-9:30pm) Mexican
decorations splash cheerful colors over the
patio here, and breakfasts are the best reason to come. Theyre big and delicious and
include several versions of eggs benedict,
French toast and plenty of Mexican egg
dishes.
Also recommended:
French Riviera (Map pp238-9; %143-2539; Morelos
%143-1516; Transpeninsular, Km 4.5; mains US$7-15;

h8am-11pm) Bring your sense of humor along
with your appetite to this barbecue and burger

joint northeast of town on the road to San
Jos. Who knows where they pilfered all the
maritime paraphernalia from, but it makes
for great atmosphere. And the food? Wow!
Appetizers include chicken wings, barbecued
ribs, French onion soup and delicious killa
burritos. Over a dozen burgers grace the menu
along with mesquite grilled chicken, pork
and beef ribs, roasted pork loin and grilled
chops.
La Pampa (Map pp238-9; %144-4939; Blvd Marina near
Hidalgo; mains US$6-18; h2-11pm Tue-Sun) As small
as it is stylish, this Argentine-owned eatery
serves up some of the best steaks around (as
well as various other parts of the cow), grilled
to juicy perfection. The US$40 parrillada
(mixed grill) serves two and includes a bottle
of Baja wine. Argentine wine is available, too.
Great spot.
La Trattoria (Map pp238-9; %143-0068; Crdenas near
Blvd Marina; mains US$12-25) This upscale, classic
Italian restaurant features an extensive menu
with numerous antipastos, soups, salads, two
dozen pasta dishes as well as some great house
specialties.
Peacocks (Map p236; %143-1858; Paseo del Pescador
s/n near Paseo San Jos; mains US$15-30; h6-10pm) Another mecca for alta cocina, Peacocks serves
some of the tastiest food in town. The chef
mixes Mediterranean and Latin flavors into
dishes like filleted fish braided with strips of
nopal cactus; braised duck in tamarind sauce,
or (heres heavy) grilled flank steak rolled with
cheese and poblano chilies. Its above Playa
Mdano near the road down to Hotel Meli
San Lucas.
Sancho Panza (Map pp238-9; %143-3212; www
.sanchopanza.com; off Blvd Marina, Hotel Tesoro; mains US$2035; h3-11pm) As much a visual as a culinary
treat, Sancho Panza is one of San Lucas most

high-profile restaurants. The chef cleverly
fuses Mediterranean and Latin tastes to create
exquisite dishes such as sea bass with cherry
near Nios Hroes; baked goods US$0.80-3) Sublime

pastries and home-baked bread to go.
Gordo Lele (Map pp238-9; Guerrero near Madero;
sandwiches US$2.50) One fridge, one table, one griddle,
one man and lots of greasy sandwiches. For culinary
adventurers with a sense of humor only.
Seor Lechn (Map pp238-9; Leona Vicario near 16 de
Septiembre; sandwiches US$2.50-3.50) Street stall selling
Yucatn-style pulled pork sandwiches.
Crazy Lobster (Map pp238-9; Hidalgo near Zapata;
mains US$7-10) Fun place for lobster or grilled shrimp.
Tails are small, but so are the prices.
LOS CABOS
fried shrimp and lobster by the kilo or halfkilo. The lobsters good, but the shrimp is
where its really at. A kilo of the latter serves
two to three and costs US$40 for large shrimp
and US$60 for jumbo, with rice, beans and
tortillas included.
250 C A B O S A N LU C A S D r i n k i n g
DRINKING
No time is a bad time to drink in Cabo San
Lucas, where bars range from beachfront
palapas and smoky expat hang-outs and chic
martini bars to wild, sex-charged loony bins.
The best bars for watching the sun plop into the
Pacific are at the Playa Solmar hotels, especially
the Hotel Finisterras Whale Watcher Bar.
LOS CABOS
Playa Mdano & Playa Solmar

Happy hour on Playa Mdano (ie, two drinks
for the price of one very expensive drink)
runs all day long, and tippling with your toes
in the sand and your eyes on the ocean (or
other things) is not to be missed. Places like
the Office, Mango Deck and Billygans (see
p248) get packed with revelers.
Nikki Beach (Map p236; Hotel Meli San Lucas; www
.nikkibeach.com) On the sand in front of Hotel Meli
San Lucas, Nikki Beach guarantees a lounging
good time all day, all night, with goodies such
as sushi happy hours (6pm to 9pm every Friday) and fire shows (8pm to 10pm Thursday
and Saturday) and lots of fine, fine people.
Sandbar (Map p236; Playa Mdano) A great place
to escape the madness is this low-key bar on
Playa Mdano, next to the Hotel Meli San
Lucas. Here you can sip your drink snuggled into a comfy beach chair while toasting
your tootsies beside a crackling bonfire right
in the sand. Theres live music on weekend
nights to boot.
Whale Watcher Bar (Map p236; %143-3333, in the
USA 800-347-2252; www.finisterra.com; Av Solmar) Housed
in the Hotel Finisterra, this bar has stupendous views over the Pacific and is one of the
finest places for a drink in town.

Bars along the marina are great for peoplewatching, and restaurants such as Baja Cantina
(p248) are fun for margaritas and beer accompanied by big bowls of chips and salsa.
Barmetro (Map pp238-9; % 143-1466; www
.barometro.com; Marina Cabo San Lucas 18) A break from
the mold, Barmetro is an ultrahip open-air
lounge down on the marina where martinis
not margaritas draw the crowds. Great
pizzas and appetizers too. Settle into white
leather couches and enjoy movies projected
onto the wall above the bar.
Nowhere Bar (Map pp238-9; Malecn, Plaza Bonita)
The mostly US crowd here spills out onto the
malecn, drinks in hand, nearly every night
of the week.
lonelyplanet.com
ONE TURTLE, NO GLASS

For the thirsty among us, Tecate and Pacifico beers are available in 1L bottles. Show
you know whats up by using the proper
slang: 1L Tecates are called caguamas (sea
turtles) while 1L Pacificos are called ballenas
(whales). And forget about cerveza (beer)
call it a chela or a cheve (unless youre
minding your manners). Chupar (to suck)
is slang for drinking alcohol, but be careful
in your combinations laughter may follow
an announcement that youre off to suck
a sea turtle.
Rainbow Bar (Map p236; Malecn, Marina) This is

Cabos lone gay and lesbian haunt, though it
generally draws a mixed crowd.
Downtown Cabo San Lucas

El Squid Roe (Map pp238-9; cnr Crdenas & Morelos)
Whether you can deal with the frat-like party
crowd or not, legendary El Squid Roe is a
mandatory stop for any serious night out. The
musics loud, the margaritas flowing (available even in yards!) and the neon bright.
You might even brave the elevated temporary
pimp stand, where solo revelers show their
stuff as the night progresses.
Giggling Marlin (Map pp238-9; %143-1182; Blvd
Marina) Famous for its debauchery, this is where
folks relive their frat-party days (or create the
ones they never had), sucking Jell-O shots off
strangers bellies and shaking their booties in
sexy dance contests.
Love Shack (Map pp238-9; %143-5010; cnr Morelos &
Nios Heroes) Small and festive, the Love Shack
is a great place to start off the evening over
burgers, cold beer and a loud jukebox. Its
very publike, and the vibe is mellow. Pool
table, too.
oHemingways (Map pp238-9; %143-5529;
Guerrero near Madero; h9am-midnight, till 2am Fri & Sat)
Saunter into this sophisticated cigar and tequila lounge for good smokes and great swill.
The tequila bar features more than 150 premium tequilas, and you can purchase a tasting
of five types (which keeps you from getting
drunk and going broke too quickly). Theres
a walk-in humidifier for top-end Cuban puros
(cigars), and the bar serves knockout mojitos
and daiquiris.
TangaTanga (Map pp238-9; Blvd Marina near Guerrero)
Sun-baked expats and return vacationers
lonelyplanet.com
knock em back over fish stories and classic

rock at this small outdoor bar. Its a great
tequila bar.
Jungle Bar (Map pp238-9; Plaza de los Mariachis) This
small zebra-striped bar is a good place to
escape the afternoon sunshine while still being
outside (sort of) or drown your sorrows in
reggae and booze. At night, its right in the
action.
Panchos (Map pp238-9; %143-0973; cnr Hidalgo & Zapata; mains US$16-28) With more than 500 varieties
of tequila, Panchos remains Cabos leading
purveyor of Mexicos signature beverage.
ENTERTAINMENT
With so many vacationers pouring into Cabo,
dress codes at clubs tend to be more relaxed
than in other Mexican cities. Cover charges
are generally high (US$15 to US$30) at the
bigger clubs.
Live Music
Clubbing
Passion Club & Lounge (Map p236; %145-7800, ext 745;
Hotel Meli San Lucas, Playa Mdano) Hosting everything from Pimp & Ho balls to international
DJs, this is Cabos hottest nightclub. Swap

your flip-flops for something a little bit
dressier.
Mambo Caf (Map pp238-9; %143-1484; www
.mambocaf.com.mx; Blvd Marina, Hotel Tesoro) Cabos
only Caribbean-themed dance club spins
mambo, meringue and more and keeps the
frenzied crowd hoppin.
Zoo (Map pp238-9; www.zoobardance.com; Blvd
Marina) Complete with giant plastic elephants
and rhinos bursting from the walls, Zoo is
one of Cabos biggest nightclubs, spinning
everything from 1980s pop tunes to house
music.
SHOPPING
Downtown Cabo is teeming with souvenir
shops hawking more or less the same cheesy
trinkets, usually at inflated prices so sharpen
those bargaining skills. The stretch of Crdenas between Matamorros and Ocampo is
especially thick with souvenir shops. If youre
in the market for high-end Mexican crafts,
consider heading over to San Jos del Cabo
where the shopping is better.
For a more Mexican-style shopping experience wander up Morelos. You likely wont
take anything home, but youll see how the
locals shop.
Flea Market (Map pp238-9; cnr Crdenas & Ocampo)
This maze of crafts stalls is the easiest place
to stock up on souvenirs. Picking through
the stalls is fun.
Faces of Mexico (Map pp238-9; cnr Crdenas & Guerrero)
Good selection of arts and crafts.
Galeras Zen-Mar (Map pp238-9; %143-0661; Crdenas near Matamoros) Offers traditional indigenous
crafts, Zapotec weavings, bracelets and spectacular masks.
Plaza Bonita (cnr Crdenas & Blvd Marina) is home
to several shops, including Veryka (Map pp2389; %105-1855; Plaza Bonita, Crdenas 231, Local 34-C),
which showcases the very best of the countrys artisans and crafts persons. The prices
are high, but these are internationally known
artists. Its worth a browse even if you dont
intend to buy.
To pick up some of the practically psychedelic beadwork of Jaliscos indigenous
Huichol, visit Tierra Huichol (Map pp238-9; %1050857; cnr Morelos & Crdenas) or Wixrarika (Map pp238-9;
%105-0513; Blvd Marina, Plaza Los Mariachis, Local 3-B).
The Puerto Paraso Mall (Map pp238-9; Crdenas)
provides a typically international mall-of-the21st-century experience.
LOS CABOS
Cabo Wabo Cantina (Map pp238-9; %143-1188; Guerrero

near Madero, Plaza de los Mariachis) With countless
photos of himself adorning every wall, rockand-roller Sammy Hagar has erected a shrine
to himself as much as a venue for local and
international rock bands. Despite the narcissism, its a pretty cool space, with two stages
and live music every night of the week.
Again & Again (Map pp238-9; cnr Crdenas & Leona
Vicario) For a taste of the local pop-music scene,
join the youthful crowd here, where gringos
in shorts are rarely seen and live bands rock
the house every Thursday and Saturday night.
On Friday its a disco, and the dance floor
is packed.
Sancho Panza (Map pp238-9; %143-3212; www
.sanchopanza.com; off Blvd Marina, Hotel Tesoro) As well
as a restaurant, Sancho Panza is a jazz club
and wine bar with live jazz, blues, Latin Jazz
or vocals, nightly from 7:30pm. Reservations
recommended.
Las Varitas (Map p236; Paseo de la Marina near Paseo San
Jos; admission from US$5) A great place to escape
the tourist scene, loud and local Las Varitas
hosts live Mexican bands, from rock en espaol
(Spanish language rock) to banda (raucous
brass-band music with vocals). Women get
in free 9pm to 11pm.
C A B O S A N LU C A S E n t e r t a i n m e n t 251
252 C A B O S A N LU C A S G e t t i n g T h e re & A w a y
lonelyplanet.com
LOS CABOS
DETOUR: LA CANDELARIA
A few days in Cabo San Lucas makes it easy to forget youre in Mexico. A bumpy drive through
the cacti and mesquite to the village of La Candelaria (population 85) will take care of that.
This small rancho (rural settlement) in the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna is known for its
traditional clayware and makes a perfect day trip, not to mention an excellent excuse to buy
some locally made pottery.
In many ways, life in La Candelaria is much as it was on the peninsulas ranchos generations
ago, when livestock was slaughtered at home, and household items such as leather riding chaps,
horse-hair ropes, huaraches (sandals) and pottery were all made by hand.
Many of these traditions have faded from Baja ranch life, but in the last decade, La Candelarias
pottery tradition has resurfaced, thanks in large part to the efforts of US expat Lorena Hankins,
who helped rekindle the craft among a group of local women. Several houses in town, and
especially Hankins, sell beautiful handmade clayware: cazuelas (cooking bowls), tinajas (water
coolers), ollas (bean pots) and tortilleras (tortilla holders). Theyre all as functional as they are
beautiful. The tinajas, for example, keep water cool through evaporation, even in the sweltering
summer heat. No glazes are used on the pottery, so theres no lead to worry about. You simply
season them yourself and cook away.
All the clayware is made from scratch, beginning with the arduous process of digging up the
clay, grinding it with mano y metate (mortar and pestle) and sifting out the powder. Each piece
is formed by hand without a wheel, burnished several times with stones and fired in the ground.
The result is a beautiful, blackish-gray, totally functional work of art.
A few men in town also make exceptionally durable chairs from palo chino (a deciduous
hardwood) and woven palm buds. From tree trunk to chair, they make everything by hand. Ask
at the house at the end of the road through town, near Lorena Hankins.
During La Candelarias small sugarcane harvest (usually in March or April), residents fire up
the old Cuban sugar press by belting the gears to the rear wheel of an old truck (when the
tractor isnt working). Around this time, you can buy the finished product: delicious cones of
unrefined sugar called panocha. If youre lucky a few women may be making milcocha (sticky
taffy) near the press.
There are no restaurants out here. Either pack a lunch or ask around for Christinas house,
where Christina usually has something tasty on hand.
From Cabo San Lucas, head north on Leona Vicario, cross Mxico 19 (reset your odometer here)
and continue straight until you hit a three-way fork just after the pavement ends. Take the right
fork, and youll shortly reach a guarded gate, which an old man in a cowboy hat will open for
you. Immediately after the gate is another fork; stay left. At odometer reading 5.6km, youll reach
another fork; stay right. At odometer reading 7.5km youll pass the turn to El Zauzal (stay left).
About odometer-reading 9km, youll run across a sandy stretch through the settlement of Los
Pozos. At 13km youll reach another arroyo with a big fig tree on the left and a shrine beneath it.
Leaving the arroyo youll soon crest a hill and pass the junction to La Trinidad; veer left here and
youll drop down into La Candelaria. Note on your return the sign says Cabo San Lucas 22km.
The entire drive is actually about 27.5km (17 miles) from the highway to La Candelaria. It takes
about one to 1 hours and is passable for most cars except after heavy rains.
GETTING THERE & AWAY

Air
For information on Los Cabos International

Airport, see p227. Aero California (Map pp238-9;
%143-3700, 143-4255) has an office in Plaza Nutica, off Blvd Marina.
Bus
For buses to San Jos del Cabo, see Getting
Around, opposite. Long-distance buses operated by Autotransportes guila (%143-7880) leave
from the main bus terminal (Map p236), at the

junction of Mxico 19 and the Cabo bypass
road (across from the Pemex). From here, its
a 20- to 30-minute walk south to downtown,
which is also served by local bus.
Buses to Todos Santos (US$8, 1 hours)
leave several times daily. Numerous buses
head to La Paz (US$17), taking either the
via corta (via Todos Santos; 2 hours) or
the via larga (via San Jos; 3 hours). There
are four daily buses to Loreto (US$40, eight
lonelyplanet.com
hours) and three daily to Tijuana (US$125 to

US$135, 24 to 26 hours).
GETTING AROUND
To/From the Airport

For information on transport between the
airport and Cabo San Lucas, see San Jos del
Cabos Getting Around section (p228).
Bus
A fleet of orange/blue or green/yellow buses
run between Cabo San Lucas and San Jos del
Cabo along the Corridor at approximately
half-hour intervals from early morning to
about 10pm.
In Cabo, the main stop for buses to San
Jos (Map pp2389) is on the south side of
Crdenas at Leona Vicario. Upon request,
the driver will stop at any of the hotels or
beaches along the Corridor. The flat fare is
US$2. Aguila buses departing from the main
bus terminal on Mxico 19 also stop in San
Jos del Cabo on their way to La Paz.
Car & Motorcycle

Numerous places along Blvd Marina and
Crdenas rent motor scooters and ATVs,
but usually youre not allowed to take either
onto the highways. Figure on spending about
US$25/40/80 per hour/half-day/day.
C A B O S A N LU C A S G e t t i n g A r o u n d 253
Major international car-rental agencies

have multiple branches downtown, mostly
along Crdenas and Blvd Marina. Every
major hotel has a car-rental desk. All agencies
have offices just outside the airport.
Prices vary as much as US$20 per day between companies, so it pays to shop around.
Renting an economy car shouldnt set you
back more than US$45 to US$55 a day, insurance included. You might get better rates by
prebooking in your home country. Agencies
with offices in Cabo San Lucas include the
following:
Advantage (Map pp238-9; %143-0909; cnr Nios
Hroes & Crdenas)

Alamo (Map pp238-9; %143-6060; Crdenas near
Leona Vicario)
Dollar (Map pp238-9; %143-4166, 143-1250; cnr
Crdenas & Mendoza)
Payless (Map p236; %143-5222; Old Rd to San
Jos s/n)
Taxi & Shuttle Bus

Taxis are plentiful but lack meters and are not
cheap; fares for destinations within downtown
should not exceed US$5 or US$6. Note that
the blue taxis and green taxi vans are for tourists and charge extortionate rates. The white
cabs are local cabs take these. A cab ride to
San Jos costs about US$30.
LOS CABOS
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Sip margaritas with your toes in the sand

at Playa Mdano (p240), where swimming,

Playa del Amor, Lands End (p240), for

Playa Costa Azul

Test your anglers luck in the legendary

big-game sportfishing (p241) waters off

Drink, dance and debuch the night away in

Cabo San Lucas (p251)

Grab your surfboard (or rent one) and surf

(or learn how to surf ) the stellar breaks at

WATER TEMP OFF CABO: 70-80F/21-27C

Lonely Planet Publications

GETTING THERE & AROUND

airport with both towns and the resorts along

SAN JOS DEL CABO

Lonely Planet Publications

Getting the Best Deal

Lonely Planet Publications

SAN JOS DEL CABO

To Los Cabos International

SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES

Paseo de los Pescadores

Mayan Palace Golf Course

Mega Shopping Center

Lonely Planet Publications

Jos was mostly abandoned, but by the late

San Jos lies about 1.6km (1 mile) inland

Spider Web (%105-2048; Plaza los Portales, Local 102,

Cruz Roja (Red Cross; %066; Blvd Mijares near Benito

Jurez) Call for ambulance.

Caf Vainilla (Transpeninsular, Plaza San Jos, Local 13;

per hr US$3) Coffee house with internet.

Corre Caminos (Blvd Mijares; per hr US$5; hSun)

Coffee, juices and baked goods served.

Lonely Planet Publications

for suspense. On weekends, bands (for better

Estero San Jos

For internet resources pertinent to all of Los

The cambio (money exchange) at Los Cabos

Although the Puerto Los Cabos development

Post office (Blvd Mijares near Valerio Gonzlez)

San Joss long, white, sandy beaches are a

.gob.mx, turismoloscabos@prodigy.net.mx; Plaza San

Plaza Mijares & Iglesia San Jos

Theres loads of great surf around San Jos del

Lonely Planet Publications

Book accommodations online at lonelyplanet.com

FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Downtown San Jos

Joss cheapest hotel are giant, while those

an ultrachic luxury hotel squeezed into the

Nomadas de Baja (%146-9612; www.nomadasdebaja

Lonely Planet Publications

for something in the resort vein without the

800-557-7684; www.hotelessolaris.com; r from US$266;

of the all-inclusives with food and atmosphere

Joss beach resorts offers all-inclusive rates

Pueblo La Playa/La Playita

Book accommodations online at lonelyplanet.com

El Delfn Blanco (%142-1212; www.eldelfinblanco

Almost in the sand at La Playita beach, this

303-9384; www.buzzardsbar.com; r shared/private bathroom